We need quality not quantity in education

THE EDITOR: It was shocking to learn the results of the recently concluded SRP’s assessment written by 11,700 applicants. According to the results, more than half of the applicants failed a simple dictation test. How sad!

The CXC examinations also revealed that the majority of students failed in English Language and Mathematics again, how sad! What do the results of both assessments reveal about education in our nation? Why such a high failure rate in a simple dictation assessment, and why are students at CXC level failing English and Maths? Are we failing our nation’s citizens and school children? At the recent Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) every student was assigned a secondary school place in our nation’s high schools, yet with “universal” secondary education for all, students are still failing, falling through the cracks and dropping out of schools. so where have we failed our nation’s youth? The whole education system needs revamping from pre-school to tertiary level. Our school system is still too academically oriented; more trade and vocational schools are needed. From elementary school, students are prepared for exams such as the SEA followed by school leaving, the 14-Plus, CXC, A Levels. All through their school years children are being “forced” to write exams. Why? Our secondary school population is still caught up in preparing for examinations all through their school life.

The reason for the high failure rate in our nation’s schools is the fact that our children are not fully prepared and are not given the correct choices, so every year thousands are going to be left behind. As our nation’s youth return to their classrooms for another academic year (Sept 2003-July 2004), I am hoping that more emphasis will be placed on “qualitative” education, rather than quantity. Yes we need to educate our youth, but they must have an education system which will prepare them for the world as adults. Can we afford to fail our nation’s youth, and allow our youth to continue failing? PS: “World Literacy Day” will be celebrated on September 8, 2003. I would encourage my fellow citizens to do some reading on that day.

KEN SMITH
Woodbrook