Online feedback

Below is feedback from some of our readers of www.jamaica-gleaner.com in response to The Sunday Gleaner column by Esther Tyson, titled 'Demoralising secondary-school principals'.

tell it like it is

Thank you for telling it like it is, Esther. Good piece. Now over to you, Mr Holness. Recently, I had a discussion in my staffroom as to whether Mr Holness had done anything useful, different or inspirational as minister of education. I could only recommend to my colleagues that they read this article.

- Peter From Yaad

big joke

An allocation of $50,000 per year for maintenance of each school is a big joke. Wha' dat can do? So-so foolishness!

- Estebanagostoreid777

allocation madness

The Ministry of Education (MOE) gives each principal $50,000 per year for maintenance of schools. What? Are principals miracle workers? Yet, they are being audited left, right and centre. Did anyone in the MOE ever think that principals must think outside the box to effectively run a modern-day Jamaican school?

Please, Minister Holness, revisit this madness of an allocation. It's not enough to pay for or do anything to help the schools.

- Visionary Leader

expect less from our poor country

Are we having a champagne appetite on a lemonade budget? Jamaica is poor, quite poor. Jamaica's per capita income is 34-40 per cent of Trinidad's and Barbados'.

In the last 30 years, we have slipped from one of the richest to being one of the poorest in the English-speaking Caribbean.

Let's get real. Weeping, wailing and praying have not increased revenue so far.

- Ise

employees don't set wages

Schools are not the principals' backyard. The Government is right; principals should not have the ability to set fees. Ms Tyson, you are an employee.

Consider your situation just like a family with a home economy. Some women earn minimum wage, others have extremely high wages. But they must all provide for their families.

All jobs come with problems and limitations. Most people just spend less time complaining and more finding solutions. Why are teachers always craving recognition and attention? Now, the man who picks up garbage earns less, in a less-satisfying job, and did not get free tertiary education or extensive paid vacation.

- McSage