Some private schools leave much to be desired

Mar 28, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
The recent move by Government to impose VAT on private schools caused many persons to voice their opinions about this present administration and we saw a few started to picket at various locations with the aim of trying to get the Government to change their position taken. Many of the picketers are parents. I am somewhat of the view that they are not really in touch with reality. I am quite sure they will be burdened directly with paying that VAT and the private schools will be benefitting financially. Listening to the comments being solicited from the picketers, I believe that many there should look at reality and see if what they are picketing for is indeed a good cause and if some of those picketing are indeed parents as they are claiming.
During last week’s picketing exercise, one so-called picketing parent said that many days children attending public school would go home without any school work in their books and that is why they choose to send their children to private school. The Ministry of Education and the GTU should condemn that slanderous statement because either that ‘parent’ has something against public schools or might have a more active role in the private school.
I don’t have a problem with persons exercising their democratic rights, but if you are going to do that and make up lies in the process, I believe I should reject that. That parent should say which public school she is speaking of. She gives the impression as if whichever school she was talking about has no interest in the education of the child and quite honestly I believe she was lying. Many things could be said about schools but I’ve never heard of a public school that does not teach the children anything or give them information to write in their books or teachers that do not like their jobs.
Editor, private school is an option for many who have children who are not educated or qualified enough to attend the institutions that many view as ‘bright schools’ (Queens College, Saints etc.) thus in order to not look bad in their social group, they enroll them at private schools. Look at the results of private schools and you will see that many cannot achieve marks even close to the public schools. I travel a lot and ask lots of questions, and a while back I had written about a private school at Meet-en-Meerzorg; to date no changes and I’ve wonder why people are criticizing public schools and are not against private schools who are charging fees and not delivering give a better service.
The owner of the school has the keys for the building and the children would have to brave the morning sun until he arrives before they can enter the school which is usually after 8am. There’s no proper shed for them or any seating area so many would have to stand by the grills, under the sun or rain until the school/gate is opened. Unlike public schools, one teacher is assigned to a class and she/he has to teach all the subjects and even jump over to another class to teach at the same time.
At the public schools, secondary/high, one teacher teaches one subject and if there are seven different subjects during the day, then seven different teachers will be teaching the children throughout the day. I have nothing against that school but I cannot understand if you are charging 100 percent for a service and only provide 25 percent then I find something wrong there and if persons are going to criticize Government’s action, they should look at what they are defending first.
Sahadeo Bates

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