EVEN NOW WE CONTINUE to be proud of the quality of our education which is admired by countries far and wide.
For a small country like ours to be ableto offer free education from primary to tertiary level is not only an achievement, but a testimony to our belief that poverty must not be a denial of the right to education or opportunity.
In recent times we have had reason to question the slide in the ability of graduates to speak and/or write English. We have questioned the decline in deportment and have bothered ourselves about the new culture raising its head, aided and abetted by an emerging but perhaps now solidified minibus culture.
As if not enough, we recently saw a letter in the Press written by a youth that recited the many ills and challenges with which today’s student has to grapple. The writer told us of lesbianism, homosexuality, gambling, pornography and promiscuity present at most schools.
To conceive of such taking place in the confines of our schools and colleges is unthinkable, and leads us to wonder where and what has become of our teachers who hitherto provided strong discipline as they supplemented parental guidance.
Have we succumbed to the notion of giving the youth space out of being accused of invading their privacy?
Do we believe we will nurture excellent values and examples for our future leaders first by accepting the notion that corporal punishment should be abolished, and secondly that access to the Internet is wholesome despite the presence of sites which perhaps confuse the minds of the youth and point them towards drugs and illicit sex?
We hear of disrespect of principals and supporting teachers alike. We hear of students arriving late for school caused by their desire to travel on a particular vehicle that belches out disturbing music punctuated with sordid lyrics. Â
Do we not have a responsibility to guide our students until we are satisfied they have reached an age to make matured decisions?
Wearing of uniforms which has been known to foster pride and respect for the schools they represent has been all but compromised by complaints and weak compliance by students and parents.
Still, further unnecessary bickering and challenge of school administrators by unions have done nothing to uphold law and order.
Unless we unite in our approach to discipline within our schools, one can expect to see a rapid decline in the quality of education and the products of our system. Do we need to bring blackboard jungle to our school system? We hope not.
