First published in The Tribune on Friday, August 17, 2007 under the byline, Young Man’s View.
It is high time that we recognize that our school system is derelict, out-of-date and in a state of collapse. Once again, after another year of national exams, it is clear that a legion of Bahamian students failing with flying colors.
Again, ‘D’ for dunce has become the national average in the BGCSEs. Each year, hordes of illiterate and innumerate youngsters, with no idea of where they are going, are being socially promoted and graduated with nothing to show 12 or more years of seat-warming in a classroom. This cannot go on!
Since its introduction in 1993, the BGCSE has been structured on a seven point grading scale from A through G, but unfortunately many Bahamian students are falling in the latter half of that grade scheme. Under this supposed grading scheme A means that students show an excellent grasp of the subject area; B, the student shows comprehensive grasp; C, a candidate shows grasp; D, candidate shows fairly good grasp; E, student shows moderate grasp; F, student shows limited grasp, and G, a student shows very limited grasp. No wonder mediocrity is accepted!
The Ministry of Education’s seven point grading scale seems to provide students with a false sense of security!
If the private schools were to be eliminated from the educational equation, the national average would actually be an ‘E’. What’s more, if Family Island schools such as NGM Major and North Long Island High—both on Long Island—are not counted among the public schools, the average grade among Nassau schools could probably be an ‘F’ OR ‘G’.
It is perplexing that a small nation such as The Bahamas, that spends so much money on education, has one of the lowest national averages in the world. If the averages were quantified on the basis of a numerical grading scale, it would be equivalent to 1.
After I graduated high school in 2001, I discovered that one of my classmates was dedicated enough to return to high school because he had failed a few of his national examinations. This happened on Long Island where classes are relatively small, and while I am not suggesting that the same position be taken in the already jam-packed schools in Nassau, whether it is repeating until they attain the standard grades before advancing them or not, something must be done.
In countries such as Japan, students average A/B passes in their national examinations, and attend school for longer periods. Why is it that only the best all students are able to sit a national examination, why shouldn’t the selection of students that are proficient enough to sit certain exams left in the hands of their teachers?
Although education minister Carl Bethel has pledged to “aggressively” attack the “vexing and persistent” problem facing the country’s educational system, his assertion that there is a “disconnect” between the expectations of the commercial sector and teachers, when it comes to evaluating students performances, seem to suggest that teachers set low expectations and are contented with passing dumb students. Was Mr Bethel, in this instance, insulting the country’s educators in a backhanded manner?
As I stated in 2005, our educational system needs to be rigorously examined, beginning with the redrafting of the subject curriculums. Indeed, any inkling of a teacher-centered approach to education in the 21st century must be discarded, and replaced a more student-centered curriculum that promotes active learning, takes into account the multiple intelligences and permits students to have direct experiences during lessons, while socializing in group settings with their peers.
In an effort to create a level of focus among Bahamian students and improve the national average, the ministry of education’s proposal to limit the number of national exams a student can sit at one time to six—except for exceptional students—would positively affect the country’s static GPA. Mr Bethel and his team now need to get on with the work of ensuring that schools are prepared and structurally sound for the upcoming school year, and seriously foster educational reform, rather than just making statements to that effect, as so many of his predecessors have done, around the time that national results are released every summer.
I am convinced that the horrendous conditions of some schools, coupled with overcrowded classrooms, greatly contribute to the yearly failures in the national exams. Undoubtedly, teachers are better able to cater to the individual needs of each student when there are smaller classes per teacher.
As a student growing up on Long Island, I knew that parents and teachers worked in cooperation to ensure that a student succeeds. However, speaking with firsthand experience as a teacher in Nassau, the parent-teacher relationship is, in many instances, far removed from that! Frankly, many parents with children in public schools immediately need to review their parenting skills, as they are negligent and uncooperative, paying little attention, if any, to their child’s educational development.
How is it that some parents can break the bank when sending their children to lavish proms, but “cry poor mouth” when they need books? How is it that some parents can line the streets and hotel parking lots during prom season, animatedly taking pictures and seeking to catch a glimpse of their child stylishly arriving for the prom ball, but then fail to attend PTA meetings, parent-teacher conferences or even attempt to ascertain what how their child is performing?
Don’t get me wrong, I would not assume for one moment that academic accomplishment is solely the yardstick by which we should judge all students. Indeed, every society needs practical workers as well. However, I think that everyone ought to leave school being able to read while having the basic, fundamental command of mathematics—whether they are garbage collectors or business people!
I would like to publicly congratulate my brother, Shavado Gibson, who recently graduated from North Long Island High, on sitting eight BGCSEs and passing all of them.
The Bahamian educational system is defunct and must be revolutionized so that Bahamians will be capable of successfully competing globally, with the requisite skills a quality educational system provides. If the problems confronting the education system are not addressed, this country will continue to stagnate!
