Minister Reverend Ronald Thwaites would like to see our children going to schools closer to their homes. While this is a good idea on paper it isn't feasible in real life.
Currently, schools in Jamaica are extremely stratified, putting students closer to their homes is not going to solve this alone. Unfortunately is seems that his main objectives are to decrease loitering at the transport centre and decrease transportation time... what about the quality of education for our children, Minister?
Schools first need to be equipped with the same resources, teacher quality, discipline and even lunch. It is not fair for a student to work hard on GSAT and waste his potential at a school unable to hone his intellect.
Until the Minister ensures that the quality of academics for our children will not be put at risk by leveling the playing field by simply taking small steps, we cannot allow this to happen. The infrastructure, class sizes, equipment availability and teacher quality need to be improved first before this idea can be put in place.
Until then, we suggest that Minister encourages parents to take various variables into consideration when choosing schools. Encourage them to look at what is economically feasible, with both time and money. Parents must sign off on their children's school choices, so for now, let them decide and work on the quality of our schools.
We all know this won't solve the problem, don't let him play fast and loose with our children's future.
Updates
June 8, 2015
The feedback I have received from parents across the island highlights deep anxieties about the current state of our school system. I am currently compiling these experiences to present a clearer picture of why systemic improvement must precede any changes to school placement. We are gathering momentum and the conversation is finally shifting toward the resources our children truly deserve.
June 8, 2015
Reaching this current level of support demonstrates that many people share a deep concern for the standard of our schools. It is clear that the community expects a focus on educational quality rather than just institutional logistics. We must continue to emphasize that systemic improvements should precede any changes to school placement policies.
22 Comments
I live kgn 4 area. My nephew has been sitting up late at nights to study from he's in grade 2 . just so he can pass for Champion... Now mr Ronnie is telling him he can't go. Champion is close to my work place SK taking him back and fro would work in my favor...please allow the parents to choose what's beat for their kids!
Students should be allowed the freedom to choose the school they would like to attend especially if they have worked hard to go to the school of their choice. For that reason, this move is unfair. Also, some students will still go and loiter in the transport centres if they choose to hence this move will not stop them.
The move to place students nearer to their homes would be a good move if the quality of the schools were equal across the board. Until that is done, students should be placed based on merit. It's a grave disadvantage to those who have worked hard to get into a desired school.
i do not agree with this AT ALL! I live in Spanish town and went to Ardenne. Many of the opportunities that I've had are because of the high school I went to! If I had gone to St. Catherine High life would be different now. No one should be limited simply because of their address. All schools would need to be at the same level before this is done!
This needs to stop!! I live in Spanish town and I went to immaculate conception high school. I can not image me going to a school in Spanish town and get the same results as I got. Sending a child to a school because they're in close proxiamatey is under minding the purpose of the GSAT
You cant fix poor schools by weakening the good ones. Fix the poor schools.
This is classim!
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Minister Reverend Ronald Thwaites would like to see our children going to schools closer to their homes. While this is a good idea on paper it isn't feasible in real life.
Currently, schools in Jamaica are extremely stratified, putting students closer to their homes is not going to solve this alone. Unfortunately is seems that his main objectives are to decrease loitering at the transport centre and decrease transportation time... what about the quality of education for our children, Minister?
Schools first need to be equipped with the same resources, teacher quality, discipline and even lunch. It is not fair for a student to work hard on GSAT and waste his potential at a school unable to hone his intellect.
Until the Minister ensures that the quality of academics for our children will not be put at risk by leveling the playing field by simply taking small steps, we cannot allow this to happen. The infrastructure, class sizes, equipment availability and teacher quality need to be improved first before this idea can be put in place.
Until then, we suggest that Minister encourages parents to take various variables into consideration when choosing schools. Encourage them to look at what is economically feasible, with both time and money. Parents must sign off on their children's school choices, so for now, let them decide and work on the quality of our schools.
We all know this won't solve the problem, don't let him play fast and loose with our children's future.
Updates
June 8, 2015
The feedback I have received from parents across the island highlights deep anxieties about the current state of our school system. I am currently compiling these experiences to present a clearer picture of why systemic improvement must precede any changes to school placement. We are gathering momentum and the conversation is finally shifting toward the resources our children truly deserve.
June 8, 2015
Reaching this current level of support demonstrates that many people share a deep concern for the standard of our schools. It is clear that the community expects a focus on educational quality rather than just institutional logistics. We must continue to emphasize that systemic improvements should precede any changes to school placement policies.
22 Comments
This will just fuel the socio-economic divisions of our already divided country even more. In reality 7 this is to happen, all the uptown students, with their influential parents, will be penned off into one section whilst all the downtown or "ghetto" kids will be locked off in a completely different area. If this is how our Jamaican citizens are to live in the years which most affect their development as people, the results cud be tearfully detrimental.
I live kgn 4 area. My nephew has been sitting up late at nights to study from he's in grade 2 . just so he can pass for Champion... Now mr Ronnie is telling him he can't go. Champion is close to my work place SK taking him back and fro would work in my favor...please allow the parents to choose what's beat for their kids!
Students should be allowed the freedom to choose the school they would like to attend especially if they have worked hard to go to the school of their choice. For that reason, this move is unfair. Also, some students will still go and loiter in the transport centres if they choose to hence this move will not stop them.
The move to place students nearer to their homes would be a good move if the quality of the schools were equal across the board. Until that is done, students should be placed based on merit. It's a grave disadvantage to those who have worked hard to get into a desired school.
i do not agree with this AT ALL! I live in Spanish town and went to Ardenne. Many of the opportunities that I've had are because of the high school I went to! If I had gone to St. Catherine High life would be different now. No one should be limited simply because of their address. All schools would need to be at the same level before this is done!
This needs to stop!! I live in Spanish town and I went to immaculate conception high school. I can not image me going to a school in Spanish town and get the same results as I got. Sending a child to a school because they're in close proxiamatey is under minding the purpose of the GSAT
You cant fix poor schools by weakening the good ones. Fix the poor schools.
This is classim!
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This will just fuel the socio-economic divisions of our already divided country even more. In reality 7 this is to happen, all the uptown students, with their influential parents, will be penned off into one section whilst all the downtown or "ghetto" kids will be locked off in a completely different area. If this is how our Jamaican citizens are to live in the years which most affect their development as people, the results cud be tearfully detrimental.