Friday, September 03, 2004
In,Up,Out
That's the new directive coming from the Ministry of Education. In other words children are not to repeat classes anymore so whether or not they have an acceptable grade we are going to pass them through the school system. The thinking and I use that word sparingly is to fulfill the give every child a secondary education plan. So all students or close to all who wrote Common Entrance are supposedly guaranteed a placement.Bear in mind that the passes are not exactly spectacular with less than 45% passing annually. The question then is what kind of person will we be turning out at the end of 5 years? It is bad enough that so may people are walking around functionally illiterate and here we are adding to the numbers. I took a look at some the new entrants to my school and children are entering with percentages in the teens! How are we supposed to be motivated knowing that these children are assured of promotion regardless of performance? Word from the Ministry is that the children are not aware of the ruling. But, this is SVG and nothing is a secret.
I also think it is a waste of resources because education is not heavily subsidized by govt.Yes,there is a book loan scheme but what about transportation and uniforms,lunch and other incidentals associated with school. It seems a pretty expensive way to babysit children while they for the most part are not learning anything meaningful.
The other new directive is that no more children are to be suspended or expelled. It is felt that there were some instances where children were suspended for what can be looked as trivial matters. But how do we deal with the instances of weapons in schools? There have been instances where kids brought guns to school and knives etc.Ever so often at my school there are fights with bottles and other available weapons. What then is our course of action? I really do not like this new dispensation.
Am so not looking forward to Sept 6th to July 1st 2005. Anyway it is anticipated that there will be some sort of review because most teachers are quite disgruntled.
I also think it is a waste of resources because education is not heavily subsidized by govt.Yes,there is a book loan scheme but what about transportation and uniforms,lunch and other incidentals associated with school. It seems a pretty expensive way to babysit children while they for the most part are not learning anything meaningful.
The other new directive is that no more children are to be suspended or expelled. It is felt that there were some instances where children were suspended for what can be looked as trivial matters. But how do we deal with the instances of weapons in schools? There have been instances where kids brought guns to school and knives etc.Ever so often at my school there are fights with bottles and other available weapons. What then is our course of action? I really do not like this new dispensation.
Am so not looking forward to Sept 6th to July 1st 2005. Anyway it is anticipated that there will be some sort of review because most teachers are quite disgruntled.
# posted by Abeni @ 12:11 PM 
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I think that won't do the kids any good. The answer is smaller class sizes and a special education trained teacher in all schools, well more than one, to assess kids who may have learning disabilities. A lot of times we label people dumb when really, their brain is configured a different way and so they can't learn in the 'normal' mode.
I think the society will see the negative effects from that. In Jamaica we still repeat, but we turning out students who don't seem to know anything.
I think the society will see the negative effects from that. In Jamaica we still repeat, but we turning out students who don't seem to know anything.
I guess this gun and knife violence thing is all over the caribbean now. Thats really sad.
SVG's government may have noble intentions to give everyone a secondary school education but they are going about it the wrong way.
And no suspensions and expulsions is just giving the inmates the impetus to run the asylum
This must be really frustrating for you. Stay safe. Dont let no madhead students attack ya.
SVG's government may have noble intentions to give everyone a secondary school education but they are going about it the wrong way.
And no suspensions and expulsions is just giving the inmates the impetus to run the asylum
This must be really frustrating for you. Stay safe. Dont let no madhead students attack ya.
Yes they mean well but its not well thought out.I saw students being admitted with 17 from 300. Now there is not a remedial programme in place and the children are bound to be demoralised because the work is going to be above their range.And if you are intent on going the education for all route..shouldn't the primary level be the point where most of the foundation is laid so as to prepare for the nextlevel.The secondary level is getting students who lack the fundamentals and meanwhile the children suffer.
I just read an article in the Jamaica Gleaner about a Grade 9 student whose writing didn't look discernable and who spent most of class time with her head on the desk, unable to cope with the lessons. Where are the special ed teachers?
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