THE EDITOR, Sir:
I CONTINUE to see the growing criticism of our Jamaican teachers. But before people criticise, they should fully assess each situation before over-criticising our hard-working teachers. Don't get me wrong, there are under-achieving people in each profession and teaching is no different. Teachers need to set high standards for themselves and their students and be adamant in ensuring that these high standards are achieved.
But for the education system to be one that produces exemplary results, it will require all the stakeholders playing their part in ensuring that the children of this nation are molded into worthy ci-tizens. When I speak of the stakeholders in education, I'm referring to parents, teachers, the government, churches, community leaders and everyone who wishes to see this country progress.
It is unfair to blame teachers only for the problems in the education system. Firstly, parents of this generation are younger and some uneducated and unable to deal with the responsibility of parentage. As a result, they are unable to support their family and provide for their family. This causes students to be absent from school because they have no lunch money.
Parents also need to play a more active role in the children's lives and not allow the children to be taught by television. Parents need to go back to the days where parents checked their children's books, helped them with homework and properly guided their children. I know it is difficult, as both parents have to work to support their children not to mention how hard it is on single-parent families, but we have to make the time.
I am, etc.,
CONCERNED CITIZEN
sdmproduction@yahoo.com
