UWI principal tells educators: Improve quality of students

Primary school educators need to find ways to improve the quality of students they produce, said UWI Principal Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie. Tewarie was delivering the feature address at the 50th anniversary celebration of the University School, which was held at the Sport and Physical Education Centre of the St Augustine campus. Among the specially invited guests were past teachers and pupils of the primary school. The gathering was treated to several musical performances from the talented school choir and steelband.

“It is very disheartening that my colleagues in the field of education do not appreciate the methods used in primary institutions such as this, which are successful in producing students who are confident, eager to learn, technologically literate, cooperative and able to work in teams, aware of ethical standards and creative. “Where we have found a formula for success, we need to learn from, cherish and celebrate it,” declared Tewarie, whose children attended the school.

He lamented the present state of the primary education system and said that each individual teacher and educational institution should seek to elevate its present standards to ensure that the right type of student is produced. Tewarie continued, “Up to the time my children left the school they did not know what race was. They found out later. We can’t underestimate these periods of attitude formation for it determines how the child interacts with others, the community and the world.” He said the development of the child at an early age must be the focus of primary education. “When a child learns to take responsibility for his own learning you can rest assured that you have been successful in educating that child,” he said.