Breakthrough for reading

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Dr Dana Morris-Dixon, minister of education, youth, skills and information, should be commended on the announcement to reintroduce reading as a dedicated, timetabled subject for teachers in grades 1–3. The reality is that if reading challenges are not addressed in the early years, students often progress through the system without ever mastering this essential skill.

The concerns highlighted in Patterson Report persist today. Far too many students, the majority attending publicly funded primary and secondary schools, leave without learning to read, not because they are incapable, but this core area is not been given the required time and attention.

Unfortunately, few high schools are prepared or positioned to take the radical steps to confront this issue at the secondary level. This is why Holy Trinity High School’s Grade 7 Academy is so encouraging. Instead of pursuing the regular curriculum that would frustrate many of their students, their decision to abandon it in favour of teaching them fundamental skills including literacy, will equip them to succeed in later years.

It is also hoped that some of the content in the early years curriculum is culled to allow greater focus on learning this critical skill. The truth is that knowledge is always compounding and individuals must be disposed to continuous learning if they wish to be successful. However, we doom our students to failure if we do not enable them to read so that they can access this knowledge.

It is heartening that, though Morris-Dixon is taking the necessary steps to bring about much-needed change that will positively impact students across the island.

MARIA MUTIDJO

Principal