Garcia should be responsible

THE EDITOR: In a lengthy media response (Newsday, June 16) to my Sunday column (June 9) on the problems at Siparia West Secondary School, the Ministry of Education claimed I was “irresponsible” to paint “a critical image of the education system.”

My major point for the public interest was the great extent to which teachers at that school had been complaining since 2008 about the serious problems affecting their professional comfort and teaching performance while not getting any positive response to their long-standing complaints. Two examples recalled:

(1) Teachers felt physically threatened by students, thus making classroom management and teaching difficult. Teachers called for “immediate attention.”

(2) Teachers felt their views were not taken seriously by the ministry.

The ministry’s release (approved by Minister Garcia) now says it is putting an “intervention” in place for the school’s problems, acknowledged by Garcia, not me, as bringing “the entire school system in disrepute” (Express, May 29).

My point is that if the “intervention” was put in place between 2008 and now, specially between 2015 to 2019, the school would have likely been spared.

Further, given public concerns over teenage pregnancy, deviant sexuality, delinquency etc reported in many schools, I also recalled results from a study of 20 secondary schools (including Siparia) where 62 per cent of the teachers said “sexual deviance such as pornography, sexual intercourse, sexual fondling and kissing on school premises were big problems.” There is of course much more (Voices of Teachers – Towards a Culture of Peace and Civility, Education Ministry, 2008)

Such warning signals were responsibly and independently given to the ministry. But the then minister who had a very sophisticated understanding of both the problems and the road map to solutions was changed. The recommendations remained shelved, only to find “interventions” now being considered again in 2019.

It is not I who is “irresponsible.” The education system needs something much more than regular press conferences where the media remain neutralised – not asking for independent, reliable data while hearing about “marked improvements,” “statistically impacted” etc.

I asked PM Dr Rowley, who has repeatedly expressed his desire for “reliable data,” if he is really aware of “the widespread school breakdown and mismanagement.” Is Garcia able? The deep-rooted, complex problems in crime and education need improved attention.

Just last week TTUTA president Lynsley Doodhai, after relating a list of school management problems, called upon Garcia and the ministry “to get their act together and deal with these problems.” The union itself needs to improve its attention to teachers’ professional problems.

Running for TTUTA presidency, Antonia Tekah DeFrietas, after outlining the classroom and safety challenges facing teachers, declared last Thursday: “For far too long teachers have been suffering as our voices remain unheard.” Another TTUTA candidate, Desiree Ogiste, described a list of “extraordinary challenges” facing teachers.

From Newsday’s regular People in the Street interviews, all 12 citizens unanimously declared: “Our schools are not safe” (June 15). My well-informed columnist colleague Colin Robinson last week noted “the mismatched dysfunctional education system.” Further, citizen Antoine Douglas complained: “Education staff a nightmare” (Newsday, June 9).

Are these all “irresponsible” too? What “motives” do they have, Garcia?

The ministry accused me of being “irresponsible” with an “underlying motive.” What silliness. What motives did President Paula-Mae Weekes have when she called for “an overhaul of the education system?” Or former president Anthony Carmona? Or former Catholic archbishop Joseph Harris and so many well-informed others?

The editorial was right demanding that Garcia “not wash his hands of the matter” (Express, June 6).

RAMESH DEOSARAN

professor emeritus

author of Education,

Crime and Inequality