THE EDITOR, Sir:
I SINCERELY hope that those from the Ministry of Education who are responsible to do so will give serious consideration to the upgrading of all schools (as costly as it might be). The 'good' schools vs. 'bad' schools that have been in the minds of
parents, teachers and students are crippling the progress of education in Jamaica.
Students spend many hours, which could be used studying, commuting to a 'good' school. The 'good' schools employ teachers who seemed to be the cream of the crop leaving the others for the 'bad' schools. Can you imagine what takes place when students pass the GSAT to go to the 'bad' school with the thought they are dunces because they did not get a pass for a 'good' school?
The teachers, who have so many other problems, will have to spend time motivating these students. This sometimes is a mammoth task. Is it fair then to offer them pay by performance? Indeed they should be paid more because they have more psychological work to do to get the children ready for learning.
I really like what prevails in many of the states in America. Each child is required to attend the school in the district where he or she resides. Think of the impact this would have if Jamaica were to adopt a system like this. Some primary schools would be less crowded, students would not have to commute many miles to get to a 'good' school as all the schools would be 'good'.
Teachers would be evenly distributed, and at the same advantage, teachers (private and public) who now exploit the system by charging extra fees for lessons because they are considered 'good' would lose some income while the parents would have more spending money. All this could only benefit our precious children.
I am, etc.,
DR. MONICA BURGHER
Kildare, Buff Bay P.O.
Portland
