THE EDITOR, Sir:
PLEASE ALLOW me to offer another solution on the subject of how to cope with (apparent) cuts in education budget.
Given the context of severe economic problems facing the Government, perhaps stakeholders in education could consider applying the principle of self-dependency to alleviate the deficits in financial resources.
With the leadership example of teachers, children should be encouraged to help keep their school surroundings clean, and to develop projects with the prior approval of the proper authorities, to assist in maintaining the school premises, on the grounds that they are the users of the premises.
For success to be achieved, principals and teachers alike must be committed to lead by example.
In the 70's the then Prime Minister, the late Rt. Hon. Michael Manley, illustrated how self-dependency can be mobilised on a national basis, by his own example on Labour Day, by sweeping the streets of Kingston.
The benefits would not only reduce the future deterioration of physical quality and appearance of schools, but also allow for reallocation of available funds to areas which are more suited for professional attention.
Above all, it would reinforce the values of Right Action, patriotism, caring as well as self-help, to name a few.
It would also promote 'ownership' by students and teachers alike, as was also achieved in Ndola, Zambia, in a school dubbed by the media as The Miracle School, because of its emphasis of integrating human values in the school curriculum, by example and precept.
As the famous Jamaican saying goes, 'try it nuh'!
I am, etc.,
LALU N. VASWANI
ehvsb@promotech.net
Chairman, Education
in Human Values
Society of Barbados
25 Clapham Close
St. Michael, Barbados
Via Go-Jamaica
