INEQUALITY

Oct 04, 2018 Editorial

The reopening of schools this year across the country for the new school year on September 3 was in no way significantly different from previous years except for the fact that teachers were absent from the classrooms. This was due to the strike staged by teachers for increased wages and better working conditions. During the strike, most parents kept their children at home in support of the teachers whom they felt were being disrespected by the Ministry of Education and the government.
However, even though things eventually returned to normalcy after both parties agreed to arbitrate their dispute, people ought to know that teachers who are responsible for nurturing and shaping the minds of children and guide them to success have been without a contract for the past three years. It is true that a number of teachers are being paid starvation wages, therefore the government should negotiate in good faith and pay teachers decent wages.

However, as has become typical and expected under this administration and its predecessor, a number of schools including two nursery schools in Linden and several others in outlying areas of the country were not opened on the first day of school due to the lack of repairs. Schools that need repairs would send their requests to the Ministry of Education, but the ministry was slow to act. Slothfulness has become endemic in this government.

Many other schools opened despite various problems such as broken chairs and tables, leaking roofs and no running water to wash hands or flush toilets, among others. Several schools on the East Bank of Demerara including Grove Primary School have been plagued with such problems, which are negatively impacting the effective functioning of students. Disgruntled parents have complained about these problems for years but their complaints have fallen on deaf ears.
The failure of the government to address these perennial problems in public schools across the country should be cause for concern. This government, which prides itself on Excellence in Education has done very little to prove its claim. In fact, it has continually reduced the education budget.
Today, large numbers of poor students in public schools are at risk of being left behind because of the prevailing social circumstances and due to unqualified and inexperienced teachers and the lack of resources. They are the ones who are affected by school closures due to defective and degenerating school buildings. Their future development could be in jeopardy if they are not provided with optimal learning conditions.

Yet the government comforts itself with the thought that there is equal opportunity for all to have a chance to get a good education. But a deeper examination into the public education shows that most of the public schools in the country are not equipped with the teaching skills and resources for students to achieve excellence in education.

The claim by governments that they allocate equal resources to all schools is not true.
Equal treatment in public schools has never existed, therefore, the principals at the Ministry of Education need to think more along the lines of equity, because there is no gain saying that in our tiered education system that is supposedly based on meritocracy, all are not equal.

The authorities must stop being disingenuous and acknowledge that the public education system is broken and needs fixing. It is not meeting the needs of many students, particularly those who are desperately in need of a fighting chance to forge a path towards individual competence and success. All are not equal in our schools.