THE EDITOR, Sir:
DO YOU know what's hot and what's not right now? Education. Do you know why? Dr. Minott. The recent study conjured up by one of the wizards of Jamaica's academia, as some would have us believe, has created waves and ripples across our little island that threaten to devour our present and future.
Some persons have come out trying to discredit the report as much as humanly possible. This kind of reaction, however, only proves that pride and sensibilities have been hurt. 'If yu fling stone inna hog pen...' Yet, quite paradoxically, so too does the silent and apparent nonchalant attitude of other interests in the sector reflect hurt. I believe that if it had not been for the thick crust of personal pride and decency of the local managers of our education system, the anger and disconcertion seething beneath the surface would have erupted into a volcano of no small order.
I, however, would not point the finger in their direction. I am sure if any of us went to return an appliance and saw a number of other shoppers complaining of the same problem, then maybe, just maybe we could surmise that possibly it is not the local [store] manager's fault, but that he may have been supplied with defective products. When one item from a batch does not work the local manager may be responsible, but when the larger portion of a batch fails (grade E or below) it suggests a possible defect at a higher level, a much higher level, such as the manufacturing level.
As past and present students of the system, parents, teachers, principals and other stakeholders, let us not accept a system that does not work for our majority. We deserve better. Let us not look on the Minott study for what it's not, what it lacks or fails to reflect, but rather for what it is, what it does reflect and highlight.
It highlights that our system is very much defective and in dire need of repair. I, therefore, on behalf of this nation, present to our leaders and policy makers our lifetime warranty for our education system. We, however, will not be unreasonable. We do not ask for a perfect system, but at the very least one that gives the majority of our students a chance at the promises that we made. I think maybe, just maybe our future depends on it.
I am, etc.,
MARK ALLEN
Markcristo20@hotmail.com
