Dear Editor,
I have been following very closely the statements made, almost daily, by the Minister of Education. Some of the issues referred to are close to my heart.
Firstly, the question of the pernicious practice of after-school lessons is a cancer and its growth begs immediate intervention. I had the distasteful experience of receiving a written note from my ward’s Grade 5 ‘teacher’ almost demanding that my ward attend her after-school lessons from 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm Monday through Friday at a cost of $6000 per month. Further, children who attended these lessons were taught syllabus material that was not taught in the classroom. I have evidence of tests being held where the children who did not attend these lessons failed because these test topics were not taught in the classroom, as they were supposed to have been.
This practice is carried over into secondary schools and the distress of parents making undue sacrifices to meet these unconscionable monthly payments cries out for immediate intervention. Proper monitoring systems must be put in place to ensure extensive and comprehensive delivery of the syllabus to all students.
Secondly, the growing phenomenon of students offering twenty subjects (and possibly more) at the CSEC examinations is ridiculous. No school timetable can accommodate that situation. Clearly students are juggling between attendances at scheduled classes and the obvious requisite of attending ‘lessons.’ The prime universities still require satisfactory passes at five core subjects for the pursuit of undergraduate studies in any discipline. Why the madness of this shopping list? Is it an ego trip, a building of an image of ‘better and brighter than’? There is need for a cap on the number of subjects offered by schools. The wish to add to the sensibly approved list of subjects for particular career pursuits can be accommodated by private lessons if students desire.
Educators and others may argue about ‘wider’ and ‘all-round’ development. I am not a psychologist or psychiatrist but on the face of it I ask what is the purpose of a certificated range of subjects that are outside of my career pursuit? Life skills are obtained by out-of-classroom reading and growing experiences. I concede that my view on this point may be debatable. My recommendation is a cap on ten CSEC subjects at most.
Statistical research may be useful to analyze the post-secondary academic performances against higher studies and social and non-academic parameters.
Let us allow our children to live that part of their lives that is not repeated. Play and all other childhood activities are children’s entitlement. Do not take that away. It is sinful.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
