No systems to settle teacher-student clashes

THE EDITOR: Having written this letter, I hope to open the eyes of the Minister of Education and other stakeholders to the persistent ills that confront our education system. Firstly I disapprove of the Government’s repeated silence and tardiness on its plan of action to deal efficiently with the major problems that hinder the progress of our nation’s children.

Of immediate priority is the need for the Ministry to install a permanent 24 hour security presence at all our schools. This measure will deal forcefully with persons guilty of school vandalism. Also, every September we are faced with the recurring problem whereby no fewer than three or four schools have to remain closed for two extra weeks because of a lack of furniture or the incompletion of repairs to the building. The denominational boards along with the Education Ministry need to ensure all schools are in a state of readiness for the new semester by effecting remedial work as soon as the vacation period commences or before such time. During the last school year and in the past we have had reports of conflicts involving teachers, parents and students. What system(s) is(are) in place to address situations where teachers and students are involved in verbal and/or physical clashes. Senator Hazel Manning and her Ministry, along with TTUTA and NPTA must immediately implement measures that will prevent such incidents.

One suggestion I’m offering is the introduction of Effective Communication and Human Development into the school curriculum. We have to review the teaching of religion in the schools. In some institutions this is non-existent. If our parents would play a greater role in the overall development of their children, by instilling in them the values of discipline, tolerance, respect for themselves and those in authority and the willingness to achieve, then I honestly believe that the performance of our education system will epitomise the highest standard. In response to Government’s initiative of a credit card system with respect to book grants, this is yet to materialise and the population deserves a justifiable explanation from the Minister for this latest debacle. I agree with NPTA’s president Zena Ramatali that parents ought not to accept blame for this situation even though some are yet to fill out their application for grants. It annoys me when initiatives such as this are not carefully devised and put in place and the inefficiency of the Education Ministry is widely exposed. The media, which have a duty to contribute to the well being of our young people, have failed miserably to inform and educate them over this July-August vacation period. In particular, the two main television stations and some radio stations.

I was severely incensed by some TV shows offered to the future leaders on vacation. These programmes were meaningless, vacuous in contend and in some cases vulgar. Our so-called, foreign accentuated radio disc-jockeys continuously perpetuate the summer rhetoric in this two-seasoned island. What has become of the NP Energy Quiz and similar competitions where students from the primary and secondary level partake and expand their knowledge in critical sectors namely Energy, Agriculture and Business. Our corporate citizens need to invest some of their hefty profits in progammes where our children are given opportunities to grow academically and learn more about Trinidad and Tobago as a developing country. I seriously believe that the powers that be must get up and get out of this laid back and incompetent mentality that so often stifles the progress of Education in the society. The time for transformation and a positive way forward is now. Without a sound, viable education system the reality of Government’s Vision 2020 plan is definitely far fetched.

ASHLEY  ROMANY
Santa Cruz