AN IMMINENT review of the nation's entire education system tops the Prime Minister's New Year Message while the Opposition Leader sees the financial situation as out of control. The Governor-General sees "a young nation in transition", requiring collaborative effort to surmount the obstacles.
The traditional three-pronged salute to the new year prefaced the celebrations last night marking the start of 2004.
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson said he would soon name a special committee to assist the Ministry of Education to review the country's education system.
"I will shortly be announcing the top quality team to support the Minister of Education in the very vital task of a thorough review of our entire education system. We have no more time to lose," the Prime Minister said yesterday in his New Year's message.
EDUCATION IN SHAMBLES
In November, Mr. Patterson ordered a review of the initiatives undertaken in education and training over the last 20 years - just weeks after the results of the 2003 Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) exams were released.
Dr. Ralph Thompson, a member of the National Council on Education had described the results as a "total disaster", and said that "the disappointing pass rate in the CXC exams this year is a tragic reminder that the State is not honouring its obligation to educate its young citizens properly, especially the children of the poor." He added that "our school system needs a complete overhaul."
Prime Minister Patterson said yesterday that while there have been achievements in education, "Frankly we are not receiving the kind of outcomes we desire for the level of investment we are making in this area." The committee's findings are to be presented to the National Council.
CRIME BATTLE STILL ON
On the matter of crime and violence, he said that the while there have been reductions, "We are in no way satisfied that the battle is even halfway won," as has been demonstrated by the recent flare-up in Spanish Town.
He also said that the level of violence in homes was of major concern. Still, the Prime Minister said there was a "greater level of level of appreciation for our security forces as they seek to maintain law and order."
Turning to the budget, Mr. Patterson said that expenditure had been curtailed and that despite high interest rates, the country met all its debt obligations and it will continue to do so. He said that for the new year, the spirit of co-operation must embrace immediate, medium and long-term challenges.
In his message, Opposition Leader Edward Seaga predicted that the disillusionment of 2003 would continue in the new year. "The problems have grown worse; where there was the usual financial tightness in the Budget programme, now the situation is out of control," he said, adding that the country was facing a "no win" situation, wiping out all expectations of hope.
According to him, the Government is spending far more than it earns and the majority of its expenditure is to pay interest on huge loans, which have been borrowed to fill the gaping hole in the Budget.
But Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke, in his message, said that as the nation prepares for the challenges of 2004, it should reflect on its strengths.
"We are a young nation in transition. We are witnessing the transition from a fledgling Third World country, faced with many obstacles to growth that confront nations in similar stages of their development," he said.
