Petrina Francis, Education ReporterPARENTS MAY have to continue paying for their children's education as recommended by the Task Force on Education, despite the government's announcements that free education would be phased in by 2005.
The long-awaited task force report on education, which was made public on Tuesday, recommends that the cost-sharing scheme be retained and secondary schools be allowed to continue to charge fees.
The report stated that the government should re-examine its intention because "some parents are in a position to fund a significant portion of their children's education." The report said that this is evident in the amount which parents spend on extra lessons.
DISCUSSION
Asked whether the government would act on the recommendations made by the Task Force, Maxine Henry-Wilson, Minister of Education, said that there has not been much discussion on the costsharing recommendations, adding that a document is being developed which systematically will deal with the funding of education.
"I must say that most of the principals with whom I have spoken and most of the school board chairmen are strongly in favour of retaining the cost-sharing, not only just for the money but for the responsibility that it brings, also in terms of parenting....," Mrs. Henry-Wilson said.
"It is in that context that we will have to look at that issue, so you will hear more about it," she added. The minister was speaking yesterday at a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister.
In August, Mrs. Henry-Wilson told The Gleaner that the Patterson administration was 'so far' on target to phase in free secondary education by 2005, a promise made by the ruling People's National Party (PNP) during the 2002 general election campaign.
FAILING CHILDREN
Yesterday's press conference followed Tuesday's tabling in the House of Representatives from the Rae Davis-led task force on education. The report contained wide-ranging recommendations for the overhaul of the education system which is said to be failing a majority of the nation's children.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Henry-Wilson said the area of immediate focus, based on the recommendations from the task force, would be diagnostic testing of students to ascertain and implement a remediation programme in literacy skills.
Also, there will be the development and implementation of a citizen education programme to tackle anti-social behaviour. "This was given fairly high priority by the task force because it is recognised that the system is repeatedly being disrupted, and there are significant inefficiencies as a result of the behaviour of children at school, the intrusion of the community in the school and the impact that that has on education," the minister explained. These immediate actions are expected to get under way by March 2005.
