Empower students to apply themselves more

There is currently a discussion on Twitter about the quality of education in Jamaica. A question posed by a Twitter user, for example, asked respondents to give their honest thoughts about the quality of the education they got in Jamaica.

First, I want to say I was an average student and had I applied myself more, I could have been more successful. But answering the question was not what came to mind at first.

I was drawn back to memories of meeting several people my age, throughout the years, who had no subjects or anything to show that they went to school. In my mind, I’m like, ‘but the education was there, it was right in front of us, how did it pass you by?’

Then, I have to empathise, because even though we have a world-class education system in terms of syllabus and content, the truth is that many other factors are at play. A child’s background, family dynamic, family’s financial situation, among other things, have a lot to do with how children turn out.

To cut to the chase, instead of delving into issues affecting some students, I want to say that in spite of the issues we face with our education system, it is indeed world-class, but more can be done to encourage students to apply themselves, even if they don’t go to the high school of choice.

I have met too many people who, after many years of leaving high school, live in regret and wished they had applied themselves more. How them did bright but them never take them schoolwork seriously; and I concur, because I personally wish I had applied myself more.

So instead of focusing on high-school rivalry, which school is the brightest, which one is traditional, etc, let us all come together and start encouraging our little ones to apply themselves, try harder to learn, and take their education more seriously.

Even if there is no competent teacher, a child who is at least able to read should be able to educate themselves with the amount of books we have in Jamaica and the advanced digital information age we are now in. I personally found joy in reading my older sister’s literature and other books when I was in primary school.

All I’m saying is that this island is not short of schools, and education is basically free right up to high school. Oftentimes, we rush to blame poverty, but the truth is that more can be done to empower our children to take their education more seriously, to apply themselves as best as they can, because it will be worth it in the long run.

I would suggest a campaign using real-life people to share their struggles, so that students understand that it’s not all petals and roses surviving life out there as an adult, whether you are a 9-5er or an entrepreneur. Even if you don’t use your certificates when you’re done, it shows others that you are at least trainable.

I have never been given an official platform, but in my own way I try to encourage any child I encounter on this life journey.

TAKE IT SERIOUSLY

If there is any child out there reading this article, please take your schoolwork seriously. Don’t watch anybody else, because we all have different paths; so it doesn’t even make sense to compete with others. Compete with yourself and the last ‘bad’ grade you got.

If you don’t do anything else when you get to high school, please make sure you get your Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) test subjects – Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

Your subjects are very important; don’t let anybody belittle you for wanting to take them seriously. “Oh, that nuh hard, this nuh hard, anno nothing fi study fa.” Don’t listen to those people. Everybody is different, and if you know you have study to pass an examination, please study.

Set a timetable of all your activities and dedicate time to studying different subjects. Find your own pace and make studying something enjoyable for you.

I personally don’t like to work up myself when it comes to studying, maybe that’s why I’m average (LOL). But take my foolish advice, if you get your CXCs, it will probably turn out to be the hardest part of your journey.

I believe things are so much easier for people with a few CSEC subjects in this country, so get them then figure out if you want to go to sixth form to do CAPE, then university.

Parents, encourage your children. Talk to them about your life lessons and do more to spend time with them; invest in them, and motivate them to apply themselves more.

To the Ministry of Education, you know what the issues are. Please pay our hard-working teachers more. We don’t want our teachers worrying about light bill, water, food and transportation while they are on the job. Put yourselves in their shoes, it’s just the honour of the profession carrying some of our teachers through life living here in Jamaica. We can do better by them.

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