Donald J. Reece, Contributor
Monday's Letter of the Day, "Too much focus on examination curricula", was well chosen and made a lot of sense. I commend the writer, Antonn Brown, who has hit the nail on the head. Mr Brown has invited all of us to come to the realisation that book knowledge, without application to life (not unlike religion without application to life), is merely advancing the status quo - the acquisition of "certification rather than an education".
A truly educated person, who has been exposed to valuable ideas and concepts, ought to experience a transformation of self, with the old values (oftentimes non-values and superstition) and selfish attitudes shed for better ones, that will develop self, further the common good and promote good citizenship with "true respect for all". At present, this transformational aspect of education does not seem to obtain, as is evidenced in the way we relate to one another. Oftentimes, it's so-called educated persons who rip-off their brothers and sisters.
Transformation of character
Mere "certification or qualification" entrenches students/adults in selfishness, exploitation, extortion, corruption, domestic abuse, mayhem and the snuffing out of innocent lives. Unless we educate for transformation of character and critical thinking, we will remain an underdeveloped country in terms of life-giving attitudes and values that are consonant with our dignity, as children made in the image and likeness of God. Yes, we may excel in sports (as indeed we should) and we may excel in other cultural expressions - all of which could be transitory in time - but unless there is a transformation of mindset, through genuine education (not just certification), we will not be able to achieve the objective of VISION 2030: A truly developed nation of which we can be proud.
The million-dollar question is: "Who will initiate the setting of the new standard for transformation?" Surely, the Ministry of Education should have a key role to play, if there is a definite desire to get good results for the money allotted to the educational system. However, I perceive that one of the main stumbling blocks will be parents/guardians, who are totally convinced that teachers and after-school tutors must 'learn' their children to memorise (and not think critically) in order to pass the GSAT and other subsequent exams. The broad picture, of a more enlightened populace, based on educational and spiritual transformation, is far from their minds. Why? There is the well-entrenched siren call in our society to acquire quick, easy gain, which is oftentimes determined by material advancement rather than the promotion of character-building with the common good of the society in mind.
Crossroads for change
As a nation, we are at the crossroads for change. St Paul stated: "When I was a child I thought and reasoned like a child, now that I am a man I put away the things of a child." [I Cor 13:11]. As a nation, we are now 46 years of age - far from childhood! If we continue to opt for the status quo in respect of education (cramming for exams instead of critical thinking) we, as a nation, remain stagnant. If, on the other hand, we (all stakeholders) critique the present system with an eye for change, we could aspire to greatness as a people, who can reason critically about our social ills for possible transformation. The question still haunts me: "Who will bell the cat?"
The Most Rev Donald J. Reece is Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kingston
