Basic School Gets Light After 73 Years!

"Basic School Gets Light After 73 year". At first, I didn't believe I had seen this heading on the Go-Jamaica website, so I had to do a double take and read the heading carefully once again to digest its content. Yes, what I saw was correct, and my initial reaction was, "Unbelievable"! How could this be so"? It was good to see that the Jamaica Public Service stepped up to the plate to provide the necessary light posts and wiring to enable a more accommodating situation for the basic school students. However, did it have to take so long for a reputable body, whether government or private, to see the disservice that had been done  to poor children at York Town Basic School who were without the well-needed electricity for 73 years? Why so long? It is unimaginable how many more schools in Jamaica may be facing the same crisis! Another recent report indicates that when school re-opened the interim principal discovered that at a corporate high school they were short 537 chairs and 393 desks! This resulted in the chaining down of desks and chairs and even some students moving the unchained desk and chairs with them from classroom to classroom. To make matters worse,  as discussed in a previous blog, some children are still experiencing the burden of using pit toilet! Come on, can we not do better to serve all Jamaican children regardless of where they live? We must do better in this 21st century.

Incompetence at Its Best!

If a leader is incompetent then this incompetence creates a domino effect. So it is with Mrs. Simpson-Miller and her cabinet. The ODP provided a recent report that clearly indicated the unacceptable actions of government ministers such as Mr. Azan and Mr. Paulwell.  Furthermore, Mr. Phillips' overall performance demonstrates that he is unable to lead at even a satisfactory level as the Minister of Finance.  Not to mention the recent ECJ/Herbert Thompson blunder. These are a few of the many problems throughout the PNP's reign. However, Mrs. Simpson-Miller continues to stand by her ministers by taking the "see no evil", "hear no evil", "speak no evil" approach. Simpson-Miller may possess a wonderful, loving, caring, motherly personality and her "comrades" laud her with praises since she has been so good to them by placing them in top positions, her intellectual capacity may put her at a disadvantage that causes the lack of confidence to manage on her own without these people. So, in spite of the fact that she may be aware that some persons  may not be the best persons for the ministries, boards, etc. that they oversee, she may have placed herself  in a position that she cannot lead the country without them. So, since she has no control over her cabinet and other political appointees and they are quite aware of their free reign to do whatever they please, the incompetence will continue. What a shame!

"Don't Bash Chinese!"

Portia warns Jamaican not to bash the Chinese!!??  Well, let's hope that her desire for Chinese investments in the country will not make these foreigners believe that they have the right to treat Jamaicans in the brutal and domineering fashion that they are used to doing with their own people. Of course, top government "players" are only considering how much money they can personally earn for themselves from Chinese investment and not about the personal welfare of their own Jamaicans. The website below tells the story of how the Chinese manhandled and forced two educators of their land by knocking down their school building simply because interested persons wanted to build high rise buildings on the land. Hope this does not happen in Jamaica!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24057915

Are Extra Lesson Exam Services Effective?

"What a way Jamaica have schools!" My father exclaimed this thought while reading the classified section of the Jamaica Gleaner's Sunday edition. Later, I was curious to find out what he meant and quickly realized that the school classified section was filled with education services pandering to those students who are taking or re-taking CXC exams. Claims of success filled the pages such as "pass your CAPE exam in only one year and get into university", "the best CXC classes", "the best math product ever", "excellent achievement record" "we offer the best teaching in Jamaica" to name a few. Looking at so many ads makes one wonder about the level of teaching in the high schools to cause so many to see a need to establish their own extra lesson services. Even the Minister of Education has verified that the recent CXC results show a decline as overall students in Jamaica continue to perform poorly in many subject areas. Nevertheless, how effective are these extra lesson services? Are these services primarily taught by trained teachers who are aware of the varied learning needs of students or others who may not have a clue? Are learning techniques implemented based on the student's needs or are the same non-productive class procedures used? It would be interesting to know how really effective these services are in helping students to pass the tests.