Dear Editor,
The stand made by the teacher from Linden is a likely catalyst for sensible decision-making by the Minister of Education. While everyone’s intention might be for the greater good, I find that some of the decisions that came from the education ministry to be outrageous.
One that comes to mind is the mixed ability classes in schools rather than streaming.
Another is the removal of cut-off points that are used to guide placement in Grade Seven in schools.
Yet another is the conversion of community high schools to junior secondary schools and the scrapping of the community high programme.
I also find it very troublesome that universal secondary education is making all secondary schools follow the same programme to Grade Nine. I always maintain that the Grade Six Assessment is a good benchmark to determine children’s aptitude, and who will be woodworkers, masons, mechanics, caterers, farmers, accountants, pharmacists, etc. A school programme was there to address these different inclinations in students. This ministry is again reinventing the wheel. There are always experts and research findings which are used to interrupt a working system.
There are always new formats of assessments to ensure that a child is not denied his/her academic place.
While I admire the courage of the Linden head teacher, we should note that he was summoned by TSC not because of his militant stand, but because of his refusal to obey the guidelines given by the circular to schools.
I am sure that a great number of teachers share the view that students who do not meet the standard for promotion should not be promoted. Then why hold end-of-year examinations if everyone will be promoted?
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address
provided)
