Carnival week off not good

In a statement, the ECA said that in the short term, such a decision may address the issue of poor turnout at schools but it questions the long term implications this will have on the children’s psyche.

“Already, the worrying loss of productivity in our workplaces (of which our schools are not exempt), due to the Carnival “holidays” seems to get going a full week before Carnival, kicking off with various marquee fetes and ending with “Fantastic Friday”.

The productivity of our student and teacher population is severely compromised with a mixture of tired and sleep-deprived individuals whose concentration can hardly be thought of as optimum,” the ECA stated.

The Association added that “as students transition into the world of work, this sort of conditioning for a “Carnival holiday” during the actual week of Carnival is not in the best interest of the productive workforce we hope to cultivate.” The ECA said it fears that it will only perpetuate its current concerns surrounding high absenteeism and declining productivity in the country.

Education Minister Anthony Garcia has said he will hold consultations with stakeholders on the issue. The Association applauds the initiative but said it should be done holistically.

“Research strongly suggests that children learn what they live.

“Let us therefore address the problem of absenteeism from our nation’s schools at Carnival time in a holistic, collective fashion, rather than seeking to fix the fundamental issues in a piecemeal way.

“To do otherwise may result in the development of various levels of undesirable tendencies, which we would have to face and attempt to conquer later down the road...in our communities and workplaces as after all, we are largely driven by habit,” the ECA stated.