Dear Editor,
I couldn’t help but reflect on SN’s editorial of Tuesday, Sept 22. It was more of an insight ‒ a most useful one ‒ into the dysfunctionality of the administration of the Ministry of Education, than the teaching profession.
If in fact the Chief Education Officer (CEO) is reported correctly then he would have appeared to have failed in carrying out an honest self-assessment as to whether over the years he has effectively discharged his mandate for upgrading, firstly the quality of teacher training and delivery, and attempt to revamp the paltriest compensation structure in the public sector, compounded by existence in a most hostile work environment.
The CEO over time may well have contributed to the demotivation of the teaching profession, to the extent of forcing too many to migrate to the private education sector where he seems to have overlooked the results they produce – either because of, or despite the training at the maltreated Cyril Potter College of Education.
Just compare the fixed salary of that Principal (and the Principal of Queen’s College for that matter), who have to satisfy so many unsympathetic stakeholders by achieving specified targets within statutory deadlines, compared to the sitting, under-monitored officials in the ministry who, unlike teachers, are guaranteed across-the-board increases, whether they are contracted employees or not.
The CEO should pause and ponder how his own performance is evaluated by those whom he criticises.
Yours faithfully,
E B John
