These last few classes have been quite enthralling, fun, introspective, and revealing. The teaching strategies utilized have made for challenging and fun sessions. I pray to facilitate teaching sessions like these one day.

In Perspectives in Education class tonight (circa November 2014) everyone received a piece of paper with a question on it. We had a few minutes to prepare an answer. This I suspect was in an effort to prepare us for our test next week.

My question was:

“What critical changes would be required in the education system to make Jamaica the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business?”

I joked with my teacher that I was being educationally discriminated against because she looked for this question especially for me.

Of course, she agreed. 🙂

The question was not difficult for me because I had some ideas in my head, ready to go.

Change the educational structure

• • eliminate early childhood, primary, secondary, tertiary
  • too many years are spent at these levels before a child can begin a path towards mastery of his profession or skill
  • fewer years, more focus

change the curriculum

• • it presently takes (13-17 years) before a child can begin a career-focused curriculum
  • too much time is spent on the general curriculum on subjects like geography, history, accounts, home economics, math, English; some of these a child will never use
  • the curriculum should vary and be a more career-focused curriculum
  • experts should be hired to make the recommended changes

have more specialized and career-focused curriculum paths

• • by the time a student reaches 18 years, they should have learned a skill that will allow them to earn an income and contribute positively to society

have more schools

• • utilize buildings that already exist, make modifications where necessary
  • increase the number of schools in each parish
  • decrease the number of students per class
  • zone the schools
  • children should attend schools in their zone or parish
  • diversify the level schools in each parish; parents should not have to travel to another parish to get to an ‘A’ category school

have mandatory retraining of teachers and administrators

• • according to Ival Illich, many teachers are not masters in their field, however, they still teach, this shouldn’t be and they tend to be out of touch with the latest industry trends
  • teachers should be placed on lifelong learning programs
  • teachers must frequently upgrade in the area of their mastery

have greater ‘accountability checks’ or ‘quality audits’

• • there should be a constant assessment at every school
• more structural layers or professionals in every school
  • in every school have a principal, vice, deans, behavior specialists, reading specialists, subject experts, senior teachers, junior teachers, interns, assessors, guidance counselors, and social workers
• invest more of the Jamaican budget in education
• form more partnerships with countries like Cuba and Australia

Outcomes

For Jamaican Schools

• • better quality schools
  • better quality school administration
  • better policies
  • a higher number of educated and literate people
  • fewer people being illiterate or barely functional or functional illiterates
  • higher passes in all subject areas

For Jamaican Economy and Work

• • more qualified Jamaican professionals
  • more countries will want to invest in Jamaica
  • greater diversity in Jamaican business, medicine, manufacturing, engineering, etc
  • more foreigners would come to Jamaica for ‘education tourism’
  • improvement in building, road, and business landscape of Jamaica
  • better quality of life right across Jamaica
  • the economy would improve
  • more foreign exchange
  • stabilization of the Jamaican dollar
  • less crime in Jamaica
  • Jamaica would eventually gain first world status

For Jamaican Family

• • less morning and evening traffic
  • fewer vehicular traffic
  • spend less on vehicle upkeep
  • Jamaican families would have more leisure time
  • Jamaican families would improve

 

*****

About the writer:
Poetess Denise N. Fyffe is a published author of over 30 books, for more than ten years and enjoys Training and Counseling. She is a freelance writer for online publications such as The 21st Century Worker, Rub Yuh Belly Food,  Revealing the Christian Life,  among others.

Check out her book The Expert Teacher’s Guide on How to Motivate

This handbook highlights the most efficient teaching techniques to motivate students. The Expert Teacher’s Guide on How to Motivate Students initially examines who is an expert teacher and how to become one. Then it will delve into how to get students to learn any subject by implementing effective motivation strategies.

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