JTA General Secretary Says Society Responsible For Education
Friday, 14 October 2011 12:20
Written by JIS
KINGSTON — General Secretary of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), Dr. Adolph Cameron, says that teachers should not be held solely responsible for the performance of students in schools, as the entire society has a role to play in their education.
Speaking at a seminar on education at the Management Institute for National Development (MIND) in Kingston on Wednesday (October 12), Dr. Cameron noted that while teachers have an obvious responsibility, parents, communities, Government and the students are also responsible for ensuring success.
He noted that while parents have a foundational role to play in their children’s education, recent statistics have shown that 51 per cent of children entering primary schools were not ready and, therefore, could not benefit from instructions at that level.
“We have a weak Early Childhood education system. This shows that parents are not doing what they ought to do, in preparing their children for the formal education system. There are some things that parents can do and ought to do, that teachers cannot do and ought not to be held responsible for,” he argued.
Mr. Cameron said, however, that teachers must be held accountable for the things over which they have control.
“One of the things they have control over is how well they use the time that they are engaging students in a classroom. It is the responsibility of the teacher to be very aware of the content that he manages or teaches,” he stated.
He added that teachers are responsible for ensuring that they are capable, and should engage in ongoing professional development, because teaching is a dynamic activity.
"You cannot, having gone to teachers’ college or university 20 years ago, believe that you are current today, without having gone back into the classroom to (upgrade yourself),” he commented, noting that if teachers cannot fulfill their responsibilities they ought to be brought to book.
Dr. Cameron admitted that there were incompetent teachers in the system, who should be weeded out, but said that there is a proper way to carry out the task and regulations must be followed.
"We are not going to hide our heads in the sand, as representatives of the teachers, to say that there are not colleagues who we would wish are not standing before people’s children. We know there are persons that we would want to have exited the classrooms years ago but, in order to get to that point we must not emphasize solely the weaknesses. We should also celebrate the achievements of schools that are operating in terrible and challenging circumstances,” he stated.
Turning to the role of the Government, he said they must provide the resources, including the funding to run the schools and the physical facilities in which persons operate. He said that students also have a responsibility for their own learning.
"When they come to school, they must come prepared to sit down and learn, or engage in whatever activities the teacher prepares for them,” he stated.
He said that citizens also have roles to play as parents, guardians and young adults, “to see and know what is happening and where you can give assistance”.
On the issue of failing schools, Dr. Cameron suggested that the term should not be used to describe the achievements or success of educational institutions or, if used, the names of the schools should not be publicised.
"We are not saying that there are not schools that can be regarded as challenged schools, and maybe you could use the label ‘failing’. We, however, as teachers, do not believe that you must disgrace somebody into improving,” he stated.
The seminar was hosted by the Certificate in Administrative Management (Level 4) group under the theme “Failing Schools – A Call for Accountability and Responsibility”. Speakers included Principal of Jamaica College, Ruel Reid and Senior Instructor, Social Development Commission, Ansel White.
The Certificate in Administrative Management (Level 4) course is a professional programme offered by MIND, a government training institution.
By Athaliah Reynolds, JIS Reporter