THE EDITOR, Sir:
SENATOR ANTHONY Johnson, though hailing the 14-member task force's report as holistic in approach, expresses a few concerns pertaining to a potentially enlarged bureaucracy and over-costing of the plan.
If this is the basis of his concerns, then he simply needs to embrace the report and not express 'concerns' for the sake of it. To speculate that the projected cost is an overkill without providing an alternative figure with supporting evidence is reckless.
It is hoped that the report was as a result of the research by independent technocrats, with input from bipartisan task force members. Jamaica cannot afford to tackle something as important as popular education without consensus from both sides of the aisle of Gordon House.
One of the contentious aspects of the report is the recommendation of performance-based pay for teachers. The concept of performance-based compensation for teachers remains a highly debated issue throughout the United States and other countries. Before one can make an assessment of performance-based compensation for teachers in the Jamaican context, the Ministry of Education will first have to make public the model to be used.
This is an incentive tool that is very complex to construct and implement. If done 'right', it may not be a bad thing.
Mr. Gabbidon's recommendation to promote teachers who do well and terminate those who under-perform is juvenile.
The Jamaican education system, like many school districts in the U.S. is truly in crisis. One good point made by Senator Johnson is worth repeating, "....lack of leadership."
I am, etc.,
RICHARD KITSON-
WALTERS
kittywally@comcast.net
Baltimore, MD, USA
Via Go-Jamaica
