THE EDITOR, Sir:
AT THE National Validation Roundtable on April 21, 2004 the National Vision for Education was articulated and validated by a wide cross section of concerned Jamaicans. Present at this conference, held at the Jamaica Conference Centre, were educators, business people, government officials and one of the most important contributors, our students.
Many of the attendees had been attending a number of the Roundtables and had followed through on initial commitments to see them through. Wednesday saw the culmination of months of meetings and interfacing in order to get the Vision on paper. I personally had attended one of the previous sessions and felt most privileged to be attending this one, the one that would be a landmark on the Jamaican educational landscape.
As an active member of the teaching fraternity I share the sentiments of my fellow witnesses/participants. It was certainly good to be present at this historic occasion. The Vision encompasses ideas and suggestions garnered from citizens all over the island. There was indeed a general consensus at all the Roundtables regarding the changes and improvements that the nation wanted to see in the education system. The chairman for the proceedings, near to the end, called for a validation of the Vision and there was general acquiescence.
The green light has therefore been given to the nation on the whole to pursue the objectives outlined in the Vision, a great responsibility for a great task, for education is the responsibility of each and every well thinking person in our society as it determines the direction in which the country ultimately goes. As with any ambitious project, many goals will be achieved, some will not. We hope for and will go as far as required for sustainability and accountability in the implementation of the Vision.
The Education Minister has been present at all the roundtables. It was heartening to see her. Having conversed with her as we sat at the same table and worked on an activity, I get the impression that she is dedicated in her commitment to effect change. This Vision is, however, a partnership between the government and the people of Jamaica and I truly hope the government is willing to fulfil its end of the agreement as I and others like me are willing to stand and cry foul if accountability appears to be absent.
We look forward to a new dawn on the horizons of education, where, for me personally, my interests are twofold. First, I need special emphasis to be placed on our repositories of information Libraries, especially school libraries. Second, I need for our youngest citizens to be given the quality attention and resources that they deserve - Early Childhood Education. I truly believe that the Vision is a herald of great things to come.
I am, etc.,
YVONNE STEWART
Library Media Specialist
stew99peas@yahoo.com
