THE EDITOR, Sir:
I WATCHED one of TVJ's Schools' Challenge Quiz matches on Thursday, January 22, between Hillel Academy and Greater Portmore High School and at the end of the match I was left in 'shock and awe'.
What was painfully obvious was that neither of these teams seemed prepared for the match. Most of the questions which should have been pretty simple by their standard, especially in general knowledge, were passed over by both teams. But what was most surprising, and I am sure embarrassing for the schools, were the visual questions. Both schools were guilty of NOT identifying some of Jamaica's most public figures.
Mistaking Majorie Taylor - Ambassador for Children - for Maxine Henry-Wilson, Minister of Education, was bad; but what was worse was having Robert Pickersgill, Transport Minister, being mistaken for the Finance Minister, Dr. Omar Davies. Two glaring 'faux pas' of the many.
On the other hand the schools seemed quite prepared to identify their favourite hip-hop and dancehall artistes from the audio questions and I think it goes to show just what is occupying their head space.
I certainly hope that we will see some insightful matches in the future because if this is going to be how our children come across, then Jamaica's education system is in a bad state and our future won't be looking good.
I am etc.,
JACQUELINE WRIGHT
Mandeville, Manchester
Via Go-Jamaica
