Time for change at Education Ministry

I would like to commend all of those individuals who have been writing to the newspapers to highlight the ills of our present education practices and their continuous calls for significant changes to the system.

The problem is that we have been writing and talking and no one is listening. So what do we do now? Perhaps a more strategic approach is needed where we can target the individuals responsible for the poor performance of the Ministry of Education. What are the roles and responsibilities of the senior officials at the ministry? Aren’t they the ones who should be leading the innovative thinking there? Isn’t it the responsibility of any manager/ CEO to point the way forward for their respective institution/ establishment? Have they been doing that? Sadly, the answer is a resounding “no.” In fact, at a meeting of principals earlier this year, a senior official from the ministry admitted that he is “running around like a headless chicken putting out fires.” Isn’t his admission a true indication of his performance during his entire tenure in office? Can anyone recall a single instance where those who occupy high offices at the ministry would have demonstrated their ability for innovative thinking, that would have created an avenue for improvement of education in TT ? The hierarchy in the ministry is comfortable in allowing CXC to dictate our level of success/ failure rather than formulate strategies for advancement in education and by extension progress in the entire country.

Has anyone given thought to alternative exams and assessments at the Form 5 level from UTT /UWI/COST AATT ? Many of our educators and school administrators have brilliant innovative ideas to help our schools and our students but we continue to be stifled, ignored and sometimes chastised by the ministry when we refuse to toe the line.

Do our leaders in the ministry have the qualities necessary to make a positive difference? It is time for all of them to do some serious introspection and to be honest with themselves.

They do not fit the bill and should vacate their respective posts to allow new intelligence to take charge of TT ’s education.

Let us start rocking the boat if we want to see progress. Let us do all in our power to influence change in the ministry.

We all need to start highlighting and publicising the flaws, inefficiencies, stagnation at the Ministry of Education. Let’s do this for our future generations.

J MILLER via email