The Editor, Sir:

Mrs. Coke-Lloyd has fallen into the trap of believing that the solution to solving our poor education system is by changing one variable. Her latest proposal on performance-based pay sounds good on the surface, but I would like to assure you that thiswill not solve the problem.

In the first place, it will be hard to measure. What standard will be used? You cannot use the same measuring stick for all schools. Take for example, Campion College, where I am sure all the students who enter can read above their grade level. Compare this to a school such as Donald Quarrie High, where many of the students are unable to read properly. Then, add to this mix a high level of student absenteeism, parents' refusal to purchase textbooks or to encourage their child to do homework, and communities that are not supportive of 'book learning', i.e., the adults that prey on the girls and boys.

Furthermore, if we intend to measure the teachers' performance on terminal exams, such as CSEC and CAPE, again we run into the problem of having an uneven playing field. If I taught a child for five years and initially that child was unable to read, after the five years I helped that child to read better and develop self-confidence. However, on the day of the exam, the student goes into the room but does not obtain a passing grade, have I failed as a teacher? Does this mean that I did not perform well? What will be used to show that the student has improved significantly from first to fifth form? And how will I be remunerated for this?

Another factor we keep ignoring is the fact that many of our students are not serious about academics. This is one area we need to look at if we are serious about transforming education. But then, why stop at teachers? We need performance pay for politicians, nurses, doctors and police officers, since these areas are in crisis too.

I would like to extend an invitation to Mrs. Coke-Lloyd and anybody else who thinks like her, to come and teach for a month under the same conditions that we have to deal with, including the same pay.

I am, etc.,

AMER BAILEY

Portmore, St. Catherine

badrac2000@hotmail.com

Via Go-Jamaica