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| Dr Dana Morris Dixon, Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information |
The Ministry of Education Skills Youth and Information should tell us what is happening at Mona High, Hopewell High, St. James High Schools, and other schools. How much education is taking place at some of these schools?
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| Joseph Williams Principal St. James High |
A source told me that the St. James High School board hardly ever meets. This school had a poor reputation, but I understand that the students have settled down under the leadership of Joseph Williams, the principal. The students' performances have improved dramatically. Violence in the school has been eliminated
Is there a power struggle between the board chairman, some board members, and the principal? This matter has been going on for too long, and the Ministry must resolve it now. The easiest thing to do is to appoint a new board. I was told that Mr. Williams has his faults, but he has performed well as principal. It will be difficult to find a replacement. He has the support of some board members.
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| Kevin Jones Principal of Mona High |
The fight at Mona High continues. The former chairman of the board, Winsome Halliman, resigned earlier this year. Kevin Jones is the principal. I learnt that the vice principal has been demoted after serving in that post for 10 years. Something is wrong at Mona High. Can we fix it? An informant told me that the vice principal now sits in the library.
There have been questions about how funds have been spent and also how members of the board are selected.
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| Bryan Grant - Principal of Hopewell Secondary |
Hopewell High was in the news last year. They killed the bursar, Jermaine Roberts. The principal was on a long leave, and when he returned, I read in the newspaper that some teachers stayed away from the classroom when the principal resumed his position.
I saw a video showing some boys mercilessly beating a boy. The boy cried out in pain and cried like a baby while they delivered slaps to the face in the region of his ears. He eventually fell to the ground writhing in pain. The boys continued the onslaught without any feelings of pity. They delivered multiple kicks to his back and other parts of his body. These boys attend Hopewell High School. These boys should not be in a school. They are young criminals and should be treated as adults for their crimes. A few strikes from the cat-o-nine are needed to teach those boys a lifelong lesson.
The Senate, on Friday, approved amendments to the Maintenance Act to provide for a maintenance order to be granted by the court after a child attains the age of 18 years. This aspect of the act applies to children who are attending an educational institution. This section of the act I believe is a waste of time. Will these young adults seek permission from their parents when they want to have sex and have children?
Will we have a law to ensure that parents maintain a sick adult child? I guess education is more important than health. Many of these lazy young people cannot help their parents plant a grain of corn. Their parents are being called upon to fund their education when they become adults.
Let's look at another matter relating to the education sector. How often schools have external audits? We talk about spending money on education, high supplementary fees and fundraising activities, but they still need funds. I put it to the Minister that the school system is probably one of the biggest financial sinkholes in Jamaica.
I am also getting reports that students now turn up at classes anytime they want to and disrupt classes. Principals are being told to allow them notwithstanding their time of arrival. We need a law to prosecute parents whose children do not attend school or attend on time. These students should be removed from these normal schools and placed into special institutions specially built for them. This is where they young criminals should go also.
Finally, I would like to know what percentage of all students leaving at grade 11, have attained the grade 11 standard of education. That could be a shocking bit of information. I would also like to know what percentage of students who enter at the secondary level are competent at the grade six level.
Yes, we need more regulations and more effective management of the educational system, not more laws compelling parents to maintain adults. It is these adult children who should be taking care of their parents.
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