Develop resources for effective standardisation approach

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I recently attended personal development workshop for educators and I must say I did not experience the intended development. What I found was the intolerance for the education ministry’s approach of ‘fertilising the branch rather than the root’ of the most invaluable resource – our children.

I am served in the secondary arm of providing education service to our youngsters. At this workshop we were told about the ideal solutions to the presented scenarios. I have an array of ideal queries: When will the engagement of talent distribution to both traditional and non-traditional high school evenly occur? When will the approach to extend to students of non-traditional high schools the required resources develop? When will the expertise of teachers who are actually at the grass root of the education system be considered? The approach of the ministry is standardisation, which is not feasible if the talent is not spread across the island. The children enrolled at my school are not ideal as they do not meet the standard because of a myriad of financial and social challenges.

Being in the system for over 15 years has afforded me the experience to know that the teachers are not the main problem. Some may be a part, but if there is a blemish on the fruit we do not render the entire fruit rotten. For those of us who are trying our best to be true to our calling, please allow us to develop through the practical application of content suitable for our children. We did not run. It is not that we could not afford to run, but we chose to stay. Another issue that needs to be addressed is the availability of formal assessment of students who display neurological and psychosocial challenges. These formal assessments need to be made available – minus the red tape – so teachers can plan lessons catering to the specific needs.

The Ministry of Education should develop resources for those ‘failing schools’ to allow for the concept of standardisation approach – which ensures consistency in processes – to be what the term suggests.

MAUDE WRIGHT-JOHNSON