This week we asked the public their views on the recently released results of the National Grade Six Assessment which showed that most of the top scoring students attended private schools rather than public schools and their suggestions to the relevant authorities. Their responses are as follows.
Yondell Clarke- GGMC Employee
`These private schools they are doing far better than government schools because the standards in the public schools have dropped severely and a lot of qualified teachers are going over to the private schools. There also is not much discipline in the government schools because of the corporal punishment stuff and also the No Child Left Behind Campaign which allows children to go over to the next class and they are not ready as yet. The Ministry of Education needs to go over their policies and they need to encourage teachers as well by improving their salaries so that they choose to stay in the public school system.’
Naseem Alli- Private Sector
`I think that the parents have a lot to do with it. They need to sit with their children and go through their books, look at their mistakes and help them in correcting them. I think the government needs to step in and offer teachers in the public schools a better salary to help keep them committed. Extra lessons would also help children in gaining better marks but a lot of people cannot afford this.’
Michelle John-Hopkinson- Self Employed
`I think that parents should be more involved in their kids’ education. In my opinion, the government has nothing to do with it. A teacher’s salary shouldn’t be their first priority. It’s about delivering a good quality education, you have to love teaching and then you look at the money. If money is their main focus, they would not be able to perform at their best. Also, I believe that parents who send their kids to private schools are investing so they want to see that good result. I am not saying that parents of students going to public schools do not sit with their children and work but the other private school parents are more committed because they have more to lose.’
Jessica Ajdodihe- Sales representative
`I think the private schools did better because their teachers pay more attention to the children than the teachers at public schools. At the government schools, the teachers need to ensure that the students attend classes regularly and also they need to assess their weak areas and work towards improving it. Parents too need to play a bigger role in their children’ studies and the Ministry of Education can assist by funding extra lessons.’
Omadelli Day- Private Sector Employee
`My opinion is that because private school students pay for their education, they become more committed and serious; they work hard to achieve their goals. At the government schools, students believe it is free and they are not taking their education seriously. The teachers also realize that whether or not they teach, they get paid so they are not putting in that extra effort. Instead, they leave it up to the students to decide if they want to work or not. I think that the Ministry of Education could check with the schools from time to time just to assess the teachers and their daily schedule, just to see what it is they are doing in the schools.’
Sarojni Lalbachan- Private Sector
`I think that the private schools are doing better because they have the ability to take well-qualified teachers away from the public schools since they are able to offer a better salary. Students attending private schools also come to the realization that their parents are spending money on their education and they work hard to do well. Another thing, the learning environment that private schools provide is much more enhanced. The fact that parents are sending their children to private schools indicate that they want them to do better. There are some public schools where the teachers are committed along with the children and that together creates good results.’
Noella Adams- Public Sector
`I think that the government should clamp down on the private schools and limit the amount that are opening. That will allow the government schools to function as they used to. The government also needs to pay teachers better salaries to keep them dedicated and happy to teach because most of these teachers just go to school and whoever wants to learn, that is up to them. There is no commitment. It’s all about the money now. The parents need to pay attention to their children and assist along with the teachers.’
Shereza Rahat- Private Sector
`Private school teachers put more efforts into the students’ work unlike the public school teachers. It is embarrassing to see that private schools are doing better than the public schools. Before, the teachers used to help students if they don’t understand but not anymore. Sometimes you ask your child what they did in school and they say nothing. If everyone could have afforded to send their children to private schools then they would have. These teachers don’t care if the children learn.’
Sylvia Jones- Private Sector Employee
`I think the Ministry of Education needs to make the entire teaching package more attractive starting with the salaries. I believe that the students attending private schools did better because they get more attention from their teachers while at public schools the classes are very big making it difficult to focus on every child. Once the salaries are improved more teachers will be willing and committed.’
Monica Singh- Private Sector Employee
`I think that the teachers at private schools generally pay more attention to their students rather than those at the public schools. Also, some of the schools employ very young teachers who are not qualified enough. Parents can help too by spending more time with their children and their books.’
