Dear Editor,
Minister Manickchand recently said the government is committed to its cash grant programme – the “Because We Care” project – the PPP initiated in 2014 which issued to parents cash grants of $10,000 per child in the public schools. The programme aimed at raising enrolment and attendance rates.
Election promise or not, the government may want to consider either holding that programme in abeyance for now, and use those funds towards a new “One Laptop Per Family” programme initiated by a previous PPP government, now that on-line learning has become an urgent imperative. The people would understand if the government explains that the cash grants will go towards computers which are a critical need at such a time as this. I don’t know of any parent who would object to that. I disagree with those who think the cash grant is an election gimmick. It’s good support for our working people. Every free dollar counts. Maybe when our government renegotiates our Payara oil well contract with Exxon, we will get lots of US$ billions more to fund larger cash grants, more school technology, better salaries for teachers, duty-free vehicles for all, nurses in schools, substitute teachers in schools to cover classes when teachers are absent so instruction is not lost, air condition in schools, better classroom facilities with all available technology, etc., as I have seen in the oil-rich Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where I worked for some time. (Exxon should take note of these basic needs in our poor country and understand why we need to renegotiate our oil deals hurriedly signed by the PNC).
The Minister said the Constitution requires we provide a high quality of education to all. A computer (preferably) or a tablet is a required, essential item at a time like this. COVID has exposed our digital divide in that children from the most affluent families can fare better with on-line learning, compared to children in rural and hinterland areas. Children in Region 4 have better access to the internet, technology, TV and radio stations, than children in the other 9 regions. I understand GTT’s internet connectivity outside of Georgetown is very slow, even with the more expensive data plans. The Internet monopolies must be made accountable.
We must understand that for decades, our education system as designed and perpetuated by successive post-Independence governments is inherently inequitable. Our placement of students in high schools is based on a system that slots and stratifies children based on their test scores at the National Grade Six Assessment into schools of varying grades and qualities. The system now places the lowest scoring students in the lowest graded schools. I know our Constitution does not agree with such an iniquitous and inequitable system. In the USA, the government/Ministry would have been sued for designing an inherently inequitable system of schools. In North Carolina, for instance, a Judge ordered the State Department of Education to provide an equitable education across the state, and that Judge had supervised the process to make sure the state was taking action and making progress.
Our educational responses in this COVID era must make sure we are not perpetuating more inequities in education. To prepare for the reopening of schools, each school should have at least two months of supplies in stock for screening, cleaning, sanitization, and Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs). Are these in place now, especially in the rural and hinterland schools? Do all schools now have social distancing markers and signage? Do we now have solid plans for the seating of students in classrooms and space issues? Are we using the teachers to redesign curriculum, instruction and assessments to facilitate remote learning? Are the training and professional development plans in place to help all staff implement the screening and cleaning/sanitation protocols? Do we now have a coordinated electronic learning plan using the TV, radio, newspapers and the Internet?
I suspect that the GTU’s lukewarm response to a quick opening of schools is because of inadequacies in preparation, planning, resources and leadership. You can’t blame them. The Ministry needs its best leadership to rise at this time, and nothing is wrong with the Minister seeking the outside help of professional education experts to help her. These are desperate times, and desperate times require desperate measures. (Email: loveguyana123@gmail.com).
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Jerry Jailall
