Publish SEA results

Publish: this means “to prepare and issue a book, newspaper, etc, for public use.” Publications sit at the heart of transparency in a modern democracy.

And so, no wonder that, among the several controversies today, publication of the SEA results stands out.

The major arguments for not publishing are: (1) The examination is a private matter. (2) Publication causes stress on students.

The publishing side says: (1) The examination goes through a tax-paying process and therefore transparency and accountability through publication are justifiable.

(2) Publication does not mean the whole world will know for which particular school student Harry Doe is selected. Publication or not, only his friends and family will know him.

This and other controversies (eg refugees, police searches, etc) help us recognise that today’s society is gripped by a new era of mass media and underground tattle which, driven by hungry curiosity and quickened perceptions, carry political implications.

Politicians beware, the political rule-book for voting according to court decisions and rational thinking is still a work in progress.

So here are ten examples of collected street-talk with political implications:

(1) How much money Sinanan really getting for his Curepe lands? (2) PNM will be happy if Mark takes vacation. (3) The dispute between Gary and the media looks more like a lover’s quarrel than a divorce. (4) Whose safe seats will Anita Haynes and Saddam Hosein get? (5) Gary’s Red Alert should also charge white-collar crooks. (6) Sat says he talking region, not race. Good one. (7) Franklin Khan cruel to stop regular gas from poor fishermen. (8) Is Vasant Bharat’s takeover threat gaining ground? (9) A fed-up Ukrainian population elected a comedian as president; we should elect either Tommy Joseph or Nikki Crosby too. (10) Why Jamaicans didn’t quarrel with America when they locked up Buju?

Back to the SEA: if the examination results provide stress for parents and students, that annual stress is just the symptom of a deeper problem. Stress from publishing is derived from the abundant inequity in the education system – from primary to secondary school – with curriculum diversification a related problem.

Why are parents and teachers not tackling this for future parents and students? With public policy, this country seems to have developed a culture of treating symptoms rather than fundamental causes. Education and crime are two examples.

Too few schools are academic achievers and too many under-achievers. Fix this and relieve the stress. Where is the plan to implement a result-oriented system to bring at least 20 per cent of the government secondary schools in fuller competition with the denominational schools? Why is St George’s (Government) Secondary School competitive? Why has QRC lost much of its lustre? Why exactly are the denominational schools so academically successful? Why haven’t the government school management boards been effective in improving government schools?

Has the Teaching Service Commission outlived its oversight efficiency and effectiveness? Having so many of its functions delegated to the ministry, supervisors and principals makes it more of a long-distance rubber stamp than a responsible, constitutional oversight body.

So it’s not only about prestige schools vs government schools.

The education system needs an overhaul, complained President Paula Mae-Weekes. Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat, former archbishop Harris and several educational experts too. It’s about educational administration too, not only SEA.

Ministry CEO Harrilal Seecharan said, “The ministry’s experts are talking about additional stress on students.”

Which “experts” will talk about stress without having reliable measurement or solutions for the largely ignored inequities between denominational and government schools? Social-work thinking is useful but temporary and limited. Structural deficiencies create permanent stress.

Publishing SEA results helps taxpayers know where the gaps are and where help is needed. In a democracy, this is called transparency and public accountability. It helps correct and review decisions by the CXC Examination Board. And self-serving stakeholders must not be allowed to make a Caesar-to-Caesar decision.

Stopping publication will appear as an escape from not doing the hard repair work long required. Previous minister Tim Gopeesingh also failed. Publish the results while fixing the education system.

Prof (Emeritus) Deosaran was a member of the Teaching Service Commission and chairman of the Parliamentary JSC to oversee and report on the Service Commissions and Municipal Corporations.