Jamaican Education
Jamaica education is one that is admired by many for
years, but in the recent times
there has being a number of
changes which have triggered
many debates. For children in
Jamaica their first years are
spent at the basic schools, then
to the primary or prep schools,
high schools and then perhaps to
university or college.
In the past, there were the
common entrance examinations
which a child has to take and
this would place them in high
schools based on the results,
but this has changed in recent
years and is now called the GSAT
examination. Some people are not
too thrilled with this new
system, as they feel that it is
not doing what is necessary for
the children. In fact, the
Minister of Education who is
Andrew Holness was in the news
not too long ago speaking on
matters relating to the grading
of the principals in the primary
schools and also how he really
felt about the GSAT
examinations. A few analyst
thinks that he is not forceful
in this capacity, as well as
that he is not making the right
changes in the education
ministry.
When the country was under the
rule of the PNP, Andrew Holness
was the Opposition Minister for
Education and that should have
provided him with sufficient
understanding regarding the
inefficiencies in this ministry
and also with a functioning
framework which would allow him
to modify the policies.
For this reason, the Jamaicans
are still questioning the work
that he is doing since he was
appointed the Minister of
Education. Many Jamaicans thinks
that he is blaming everybody
except himself for failures in
eliminating the disproportion
and also makes the necessary
policy changes. The persons in
charge and all Jamaicans should
ensure that the education system
is developed in way that it will
be valuable to the young
generation and help them to
become productive in this world
which is constantly changing.
Obviously, there might be issues
with the actual programs
associated with the GSAT
assessment which needs to be
resolved. Every year, people
make a complaint that the
curriculum is too stressful and
that there are several faults in
the way the exam is judged on
certain topics. In the end, this
is not making much sense,
because every year when this
exam comes around there is still
going to the discussions about
the problems with the system and
the cycle will go on.
In addition, there is also the
blaming of the colleges which
train the teachers for not
producing persons who are at the
requisite level and this should
not be happening. The education
ministry has the power to have
an impact on Teachers Colleges
or High Schools in order to
improve on the standard which
will benefit everyone.
Therefore, the minister must
remain firm and also find ways
to influence the changes which
should be made and give the
children the most effective
opportunities.
The reality is, at this time
next year Jamaica education
should be reflecting changes
such as the prerequisites needed
to improve the teachers
colleges; the modification of
the GSAT curriculum for children
in grade six; improvement in the
teacher to student ratio and
other important issues. This is
the only way to build a
foundation for the young people
in this country and help them to
be
successful in their chosen
career path.
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