Beating the crisis in Education

THE EDITOR: yesterday the Joint Select Committee of Parliament will have begun to examine the Teaching Service Commission, the Ministry of Education and the Denominational School Boards on a number of administrative and human resource functions related to the educational sector. I fervently hope that this exercise is not as Julius Caesar would describe it (if he were alive) another act of “parading in idle pretence.” Our education system is at present in the grip of reform and undergoing changes in preparation for the realities of Vision 2020. Consequently, the terms of reference for the Committee should be to:

* Examine the purpose and structure of the Teaching Commission to function in a modernised education sector;
* To determine whether the present structure and mandate of the Teaching Service Commission lends itself to the imperatives of modernisation;
* Make recommendations (including the need for creating a relevant legal framework for the education sector) for an improved Teaching Service Commission.

As I see it, the time has come for the Ministry of Education to establish more meaningful strategic alliances with the Teaching Service Commission, the Tobago House of Assembly, and the Denominational Boards.  Our approach to recruitment, promotion, and transfers in the education sector has to be more objective and productive. No longer should we continue to operate in subjective and unscientific modes. No longer should we continue to recruit and promote individuals to their levels of incompetence.  The new millennium is not only demanding people who have the best skills, but also people who have a suitable, collaborative, and collegial work ethic.  Therefore, the Committee should ensure that it seizes the opportunity from June 4 to delve deeply into the relevance and effectiveness of the Teaching Service Commissions, the Ministry of Education, and the Denominational boards.  Unless it makes recommendations for improvement, our education system will remain trapped in crisis, controversy, and incompetence.

RAYMOND S HACKETT
Curepe