HAVE YOU ever had the 'exam jitters'? Many students study for weeks, months and even years for preparation for examinations which oftentimes prove stressful and irrelevant to our personal development. Nonetheless, for advancement up the educational ladder, we endure.
Persons recently sat the GSAT exams to earn places in secondary institutions. In Spanish Town, there are approximately five secondary schools - Jose Marti, Johnathan Grant, Spanish Town Junior Secondary, St. Catherine High and St. Jago High.
What is interesting however, is that of the five, most applicants from Spanish Town only choose to apply for one of the latter two. This speaks much for the reputations of St. Jago and St. Catherine High. It speaks also of the overwhelming advantage that traditional high schools have and their ability to choose the best of the best for enrolment.
Conversely, it leaves a negative impression on what all the other schools have to offer. Many parents opt for transfers as soon as their children are placed in one of the 'less-recognised' schools.
Not many parents consider the possibility that their child may be able to make a positive contribution to these other schools. They undermine the youths' ability to effect 'positive changes'.
I believe that there are many talented, intelligent, earth-shakers attending all three of the other institutions. If we continue to ignore this fact, Spanish Town will never have more than two 'prominent high schools'. Even if these schools should become better known, it is only when we change our general outlook that we will maximise our potential for change.
By Cherine Forbes
Youth Writer
