THE EDITOR, Sir:
I AM writing this letter to you based on my experience. I am a teacher at an upgraded high school in Jamaica and I must say that we are making strides in CSEC passes and the performing arts. However, I am appalled from time to time by the kind of students who are entering the high school system.
I met a student recently who could not spell the words, 'mother', 'cat' or her last name, albeit the name is a bit difficult. When I asked her to spell 'me', she asked me what is me. She did not understand or recognise the word 'me'; neither could she spell it! I was amazed!
INCORRECT SPELLING
There are students in the system who don't even know the letters of the alphabet much less spell a two-letter word. Believe me, I am not joking. This is quite disturbing for me. At the end of the five years of high school if these children have passed one CSEC subject or if they are able to read at a grade six or seven level, they have done extremely well. Take my word for it.
So, my question is: How did they reach so far without being able to read? And doesn't the Ministry of Education see the GSAT results before students are placed? What is being done about it? At our end, we can only try to help them to read and as we know, the ability to read is crucial to the completion of a proper education.
So when I hear people blaming the teachers for CSEC failures, I sigh, but sometimes I laugh a mirthless laugh, because they do not know half of what goes on in our schools. I hope people who wish to speak would wake up and see for themselves what is happening in our schools.
I am, etc.,
BRIDGET
THOMPSON-DUNKLEY
amelia_bdunk@hotmail.com
Kingston 20
Via Go-Jamaica
