Pity people with two and three O’levels

THE EDITOR: How can this Government seriously deal with crime when they are messing up technical education in this country? To start with, both San Fernando Technical Institute (SFTI) and John Donaldson Technical Institute (JSDTI) have served to educate and create jobs for thousands if not hundreds of thousands of people. By placing these institutes under the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) it automatically eliminates people with two and three subjects. These people would have previously entered the institutes and upgraded themselves by doing craft courses, and almost always move on to do technician courses.

A lot of these kids went on to complete degree programmes. In fact, out of the last five principals at SFTI, two were graduates at SFTI.  In fact, a student who started out doing a craft course now has a doctorate from UWI. As it stands now, under UTT if you can’t make the grade, then you are placed in a Transition course. No problem, but guess what, there are kids with eight O’levels in the transition courses. Additionally, there are kids who spent an entire year doing transition and then failed. What can they show for this year spent? Nothing. At least if they did a craft course, they can help themselves. So what happens to the kids with two and three O’levels? Absolutely no provisions are made for them. Mr PM, we are begging you, don’t stop the craft courses at the institutes.

Leave us under the Ministry of Education. Or the price will be too high to pay. If you look at the increase in crime it will be noticed that it’s only a couple of years its been spiralling. And guess what, this is the period of time that the Government has been playing yo-yo with the institutes. If it’s not COSTATT it’s UTT or some other entity. Employers know the value of the NEC. Mr PM, in this entire scenario what about the teachers who have served this country for so long? There was a meeting of UTT big boys and big girl on Thursday November 10 at SFTI, and when a staff member asked about his future, he was told by the woman in charge of Human Resource to “kneel down and pray,” because he doesn’t have the required PhD to teach the courses. The teachers were never consulted in any of these changes and the people placed in charge of this transition are only looking after themselves.

CARLENE PETERS
San Fernando