THE EDITOR, Sir:
STEPHEN VASCIANNIE'S article, "GSAT and the Society" was very interesting and begs further thought and discussion on the subject. The only significant (positive) difference between the Common Entrance and the GSAT is that the latter is aligned to the classroom curriculum.
Minister Whiteman's call to give the so-called non-traditional schools the opportunity to prove themselves is a bit naive and dishonest. What is there to prove? Are we to expect these schools to some day perform at the level of the "dream schools" without significant changes in the government's pupil-placement policy, and the formula used to allocate funding to schools?
With due respect to the hardworking faculty and administrators at schools such as Glenmuir, Munro, Campion, and Ardenne; the fact of the matter is that these schools are sent the 'cream of the crop' and receive significantly more funding. The high standard of student achievement is to be expected (and demanded)! Please note though that a close examination of most non-traditional schools will reveal cases of high academic achievement equal to that of any school, up to the fifth form.
Unless we are bold enough to rationalise pupil placement to ensure a more equitable distribution of high-achievers, we should not expect schools to raise their standards to match the "dream schools." Until parents, through local, regional, and national PTAs band together with progressive-minded intellectuals and take a stand, the government (PNP/JLP) will continue to play games with the education of the masses.
Vasciannie, can you be one such progressive-minded intellectual?
I am etc.,
RICHARD KITSON-WALTERS
rwalters@moac.morgan.edu
Via Go-Jamaica
