THE EDITOR, Sir:
I WONDER if the Ministry Of Education is aware of a practice which exists in some schools, where teachers do not correct work done by students but have the students exchange books and mark [right or wrong] on his/her instructions.
Some 14 years ago, a young relative of mine started attending one of the top boy's schools in the Corporate Area. I was accustomed to checking his books to ascertain how well he was doing and when I came upon a number of inconsistencies I enquired about the system and was told of the exchange of books. On occasions when "Miss" marked the book, the results were not much better. At that point I hoped that the practice was not widespread.
At the beginning of the current school term, I gave a mother some blue ink pens for her daughter. Among the pens was a "red ink" which I proceeded to retrieve when the mother told me that her daughter needed that one also to do corrections in class. She added that "teacher does not correct books again; the children have to do it, so we have to buy them red pens".
This child is in a primary school! Can you imagine my amazement? I had no idea that the practice had spread to the primary schools and had so spread throughout the system without the knowledge of the school boards, inspectors [do we still have those?] or the Minister of Education. Is there any wonder that the level of education of the majority of our children is less than acceptable/desirable?
Any negotiation for increase in wages and salaries ought to be based on performance. I do not believe in "across the board" increases, where he who performs not, is rewarded to the same extent as she who does. The new Minister of Education ought to look at the complete picture and ask the JTA whether they truly believe that their members are deserving of any increases. There is a high level of tinkering going on with the education process and someone must put a stop to it.
I am etc.,
SYBIL CHRISTIE
schristie@cwjamaica.com
