Letter of the Day | Fix the Act

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Faced with the prospect of having to refund millions of dollars to traffic violators, amendments to the Road Traffic Act were recently hurtled through the Parliament and unanimously approved. It was a striking example that the Government is indeed capable of moving legislation if it cares to.

Ironically, although successive governments have spoken about the importance of education, little has been done to address the many loopholes and shortcomings of the Education Act, which governs public education in Jamaica, and begs the question of their sincerity. The truth is that the Government’s failure to make changes to this critical Act has, and continues to cost Jamaican taxpayers billions of dollars that it seems only too willing to dispense of.

Perhaps the most glaring example is the case of the former minister of education and principal of Jamaica College, Mr Ruel Reid, who continues to be paid a whopping salary and who has applied for his ‘special’ leave to be extended. Although the public is incensed by this, it seems all but settled that his request will be granted because the outdated Act renders the ministry powerless to do otherwise. He will be paid for doing nothing, and the taxpayers will have to foot the bill for his stand-in to carry out his duties.

However, Mr Reid is emblematic of other teachers who continue to collect monthly salaries, although their service has been found wanting. Since the Act facilitates their misconduct, it is near impossible for school boards to hold those to whom the education of our children has been entrusted accountable. It also denies well-meaning and capable teachers of entering the system.

If this continues, the educational enterprise will forever be destined to failure. We only have to look at the abysmal results at almost every level of the education system to see the consequences of inaction.

MANY DEFICIENCIES

After 40 years, we have witnessed the many deficiencies of the Education Act, yet not a single letter of it has been changed. Instead, the system continues to be encumbered by delinquent and corrupt actors, who unconscionably bleed it of much-needed resources. This cannot be tolerated; the Education Act must be amended to meet the demands of our reality.

Unfortunately, the real victims of the indolence of governments past and present are the children of Jamaica. It is unlikely, but perhaps only when this group who has been deprived of a decent education brings a class action lawsuit against the Government of Jamaica, can we begin to hope that some action will be taken to address this relic legislation.

MARIA MUTIDJO

Teacher