Latest update April 3rd, 2026 12:35 AM
Uncle Shaik is right
Oct 01, 2008 Features / Columnists
The Parrot was whistled at repeatedly over the last few days following the most recent squawk on extra lessons. The squawk was not intended to offend teachers; it was an attempt to ask some pertinent questions surrounding the issue.
There are many, if not the vast majority, of teachers who are committed and who take pride in their profession. They are enthusiastic about their students obtaining good grades at the yearly exams. They must be commended.
However, there are some who show little interest in their jobs and take little pride in what they do. They seem to be along only for the ride; just passing through.
Extra lessons, with all its good intention, can be a burden on the children. They are required to be at school by half past eight; finish at three; go to lessons, either in school or out of; finish this at about six or seven; get home at about eight depending on where each is living; do homework after having a shower and dinner; hit the sack by eleven; up at about six and re-start the cycle. Weekends are hardly enough to complete homework/assignments given.
What I have described is not for fifth formers or University students; it’s for those in fifth and sixth grades! First formers also.
Herein lies my concern. How can these students function effectively over a given school week after having endured what I mentioned? As I stated in the previous squawk, the extra lessons must be in the context of helping those children who are considered “slow” learners.
Their being helped outside of the regular classroom is to ensure that the class is not held back. If this is practised, then there is no excuse why the syllabus cannot be completed in the classroom within the school year.
This brings me to an important point; teachers, as far as I am aware, are required to keep a progress log whilst tutoring a particular class or subject. This log, which is supposed to be seen and approved by the Head Teacher, provides a monitoring mechanism for the teacher, the department Head and the Principal as to whether the teacher is on or off track.
In other words, at any given time, the teacher or his/her supervisor can determine where a class is in relation to the syllabus to the corresponding time. The question is, “Is this being done? Shouldn’t the Heads be held accountable?”
In talking to students, many stories are told about the lack of interest by some teachers whilst teaching the class. The situation is reversed during extra lessons administered by the same teacher. In some cases the extra lessons, again by the same teacher, are based on a different part of the syllabus.
How then can the extra lessons be an attempt to bolster what’s happening in the classroom? It’s no secret that some in the profession are not enthused about government’s effort to continue its improvement of the education sector.
This has its own implications; they will be unsupportive and would stymie classroom progress so as to ensure that extra lessons are required. Students are helpless; they are afraid to speak up for fear of being reprimanded in the presence of their peers.
The same situation exists with regards to monies being demanded for various reasons. Again, what are the Heads doing? The Parrot agrees with Uncle Shaik; some teachers are short-changing their students.
Increased monitoring can decrease the extra lessons. The Heads should adopt the Nike slogan: “Just Do It”.
Squawk! Squawk!
Discover more from Kaieteur News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.