National Debate (sigh) more of the same

Published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Friday | August 10, 2007

Dennie Quill, Contributor

There appears to be no shortage of commitment to improving Jamaica's education system. This was confirmed in the first of three national political debates in the run-up to the general election. Wednesday night's contest between the JLP's Ken Baugh and the PNP's Peter Phillips reaffirmed that both parties sustain the aspiration that our children will grow up to become productive members of society. We have had reforms, studies, roundtable consultations, inputs from consultants, curriculum reviews, decentralisation programmes and intense research into education.

Clearly there is no shortage of professed good intentions. So why are the majority of our schools failing? If you believe expressions of an education system gone wrong are overstated, take a visit to a police station - any police station in Jamaica - and witness a constable taking a statement, I guarantee that he or she will be unable to spell familiar words in common usage. He or she will take hours to write this statement.

Amazed at joblessness

Recently I travelled from Kingston to rural Manchester and I was simply amazed to see so many young men on the corner, on a weekday. It was apparent they had no work, no form of industry and were cooling their heels at the most convenient place. What will become of them? Long gone are the days when ambitious young men would be apprenticed to learn skills such as carpentry, masonry, shoemaking, tailoring, tile-laying andplumbing. Obviously they could not have passed the test for enlisting in either the Jamaica Constabulary Force or the Jamaica Defence Force. Hopefully someone overseas is filing for them. In the meantime they await the remittances and the barrels. And one day they will fly away, with no marketable skills they are likely to go the way of so many others, a life of crime, prison and deportation. So the problem comes right back where it began.

Frankly, I am disappointed that the interview panel in Wednesday's debate did not ask some of the tough questions so the audience could get a better understanding of why we have failed so miserably to educate the majority of our children. Some do exceptionally well, these are right at the top of the heap and they are now being lured to North American prep schools and colleges. Children are losing respect for some of our teachers and mockingly repeat their mispronunciations. When we hear some teachers talking about the 'edication' system we know we need a revolution in education and quickly.

I wanted to hear both politicians talk about the need to establish key skills qualifications based on the country's development goals. This is how the Asian countries surged ahead. For example, Singapore decided that it needed X number of engineers, X number of doctors by X number of years and set about encouraging nationals to acquire these skills.

I wanted to hear about a dramatically changed educational landscape - that requires students to have a career development plan by the time they get to high school. Once students have identified their career goals, then the school should place them on the path to get there.

High-quality education

I wanted to hear how we would use research to support the implementation of high-quality education programmes in early childhood education and beyond. I wanted to hear how parents were going to be assisted in playing a greater role in their children's development.

I wanted to hear that there would be a dramatic shift in the way school boards are appointed, with the best minds being put to use in helping to set measurable and rigorous targets for the schools.

I wanted to hear about a plan to pay teachers handsomely for working in inner-city schools. I wanted to hear of a merit award scheme for exceptional teachers who are made to submit annual development plans and accomplish their goals. I wanted to hear how we could reduce dropout rates in school.

I wanted to hear about a better system of collaboration between the Ministry of Education and other state agencies and non-governmental organisations engaged in early childhood education and other teaching. The missionaries were the first educators in Jamaica, and their record of achievement stands. Should the Ministry of Education be building partnerships with the Church? Morant Bay High School, Portmore Missionary and Covenant are the most recent institutions established by the Church, but with their vast resources could they be encouraged to do more?

For me, Wednesday's debate was simply more of the same. I wanted someone to be different.

Dennie Quill is a veteran journalist who may be reached at denniequill@hotmail.com