Do we promote or do we repeat?

Dec 17, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,
The question contained in the caption above has created a lot of furor and I am wondering if much ado has not been made of nothing. Let me hasten to add that I regard the education of the nation’s children of paramount importance.
Now let us examine some of the terms bandied about in this scenario. The term, “No Child Left Behind” has now become synonymous with no “Repetition” and of course, as it has become fashionable, we are not supposed “to ape” the United States. “Failing the Students” was another popular term.
I wish to express my gratitude to the worthy Headmaster in providing the opportunity for this crucial question to be given focus for re-examination and for us as a nation to take an informed position on this issue.
My admiration goes out to his courage in sticking to his belief with such strong conviction, misguided though it may be.
As a principal of a public institution, he should recognise that a Public Servant do not “buck the system” of which he is a part of, by openly challenging national policies.
Certainly, policies are revised from time to time, but there are forums and standard acceptable procedures to make such contradictions.
Such a radical position necessitates a total examination of all the consequences which could arise in the event of the change of educational policy being demanded.
Psychologically, the child who is asked to remain in the same class while his peers move on to a higher class is scarred for life.
He will be known even in adulthood as “that boy with the big head who had to remain in the class”. I dread to even consider what would be the reaction of the female students towards him.
Then there is the simple matter of the logistics involved. If all the non-performers are asked to repeat, then invariable, there are going to be at least one additional class for each year level.
This, in light of the dire constraints schools already face in relation to overcrowded classrooms and paucity of teachers, just seem to invite educational catastrophe.
Do a compound calculation of numbers and if there is an extras class for repeaters for each year level, think of the numbers facing you at the end of a five-year period and I am saying you have to be a magician, or the world’s biggest optimist to take on such a principal’s nightmare.
Studies have shown that students who are left back in class enter into either of three (3) modes of behaviour:-
1. They become openly rebellious and become completely alienated from their peers whether from the previous or the present class.
2. They simply go into a shell from which they can never be retrieved.
3. They become drop-outs due to the embarrassment he/she faces on a daily basis.
4. Only a minority few used the repetition to consolidate their performance. The question is posed “Do we promote? Or do we repeat?”
Do we risk all for the benefits for a minority few?
To further assist us in making this choice let us examine what motivates this policy.
The Ministry of Education is definitely aware of the possible negative consequences of automatic promotion.
Hence, a multiplicity of educational interventions to ensure that everything is done to ensure that students experiencing varying levels of difficulties are catered for with the view of bringing them up to the level of their peers by way of remediation. Let us examine a few of these initiatives:-
1. The transitory Grade 6 students who are entering Secondary Schools without having the perquisite skills are given a chance to prepare themselves for treadmill of the high school rather than be “promoted” straight into Grade 7 and left there to swim or promoted through the system without ever acquiring a high school education.
2. There is an extra two hours per week for every child diagnosed with deficiencies.
3. Students will be earmarked by teachers of the school for intensive remediation during the vacation periods.
In addition there are several training courses to prepare teachers to offer more efficient remediation classes for their students.
The question is asked, would our students be left behind with such child-friendly initiatives being undertaken by the Ministry of Education. I think not.
So it would seem that my good friend, the Headmaster, and the Ministry of Education are of the same side – the side which demands that our nation’s children to be educated and not ever to be left behind. It does seem after all, it is a case of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’.
Parikhan Ram

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