Education officers in Jamaica: what do we know about them?
In an article published in the Gleaner today Education Minister of Jamaica has made an appeal and cast a challenge to the Education officers of Jamaica.
“It is unacceptable. Let us make it quite clear. It can’t go on like this. The role of the education officers has to change. They have to be held more accountable and this is why we are putting the emphasis on early-childhood education so that diagnosis can be done early,” said Thwaites.
Acting Permanent Secretary Grace McLean said while psychosocial analyses are detecting a number of problems with some of the children, the education officers will be given mandates to ensure improved performance.
Education officers in the cross hairs – Lead Stories – Jamaica Gleaner – Sunday | July 1, 2012.
What IS the current role of an education officer? What tools are available to help them serve the school children of Jamaica? Who do they report to and how? This calls for research on our part. We welcome your insight and comments.
Learn MoreGSAT and extra lessons
What is your experience with “at school” extra lessons for GSAT preparation? In this article published by the Gleaner…
Axe coming for extra lessons – Lead Stories – Jamaica Gleaner – Monday | June 25, 2012.
The Minister of Education says:
He added: “We know the financial struggle that many parents are already facing. … I have heard of cases where children in preparation for GSAT (Grade Six Achievement Test) have been going to extra classes for three years, so what we would like to know is what is going on in the ordinary classes. Why this is happening?” Thwaites stated. The education minister added that a review of the contact period between teachers and students is one of the measures his ministry will be looking to as a means of fixing the problem.
“We have to insist that we do it right the first time, and this is why the Jamaica Teaching Council legislation is so important because we cannot transfer teaching from the regular contact hours,” Thwaites told a Gleaner Editors’ Forum last Thursday.
The Teachers say:
….The president of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association, Paul Adams, told The Gleaner that the money the teachers collect for extra lessons are just merely contributions.”The fees that they charged are contribution, they are reasonable. These teachers sacrifice their time with their family to provide lesson for the children,” he argued.
And the parents of the PTA say:
Meanwhile, Marcia McCausland-Wilson, president of the National Parent Teachers’ Association, said extra lessons, in most cases, are offered to children whose parents can afford to pay and so they are normally ahead in their schoolwork. “The weaker students in the class who need the lesson, but can’t afford to pay, do not get extra lessons most of the times. There are a few teachers who will have extra lesson for the entire class but not the majority,” she lamented.
McCausland-Wilson said her association has received complaints that the topics taught in extra lessons are normally being introduced there for the first time, adding that an investigation would be done.
We would Love YOUR opinion, especially if you have been through the GSAT preparations recently.
Learn MoreGSAT is ‘apartheid’ – Jamaica Gleaner – Wednesday | June 20, 2012
GSAT is ‘apartheid’ – Lead Stories – Jamaica Gleaner – Wednesday | June 20, 2012.
Despite its unfortunate and negative title, this article speaks POSITIVELY to the important need for parents to give support and presence to secondary schooling. As the national average goes UP (…. goood news!!! ) each school can be presumed to receive a better student. Parents have to keep the “GSAT momentum” going wherever they child is placed. Throughout schooling, PARENTS ARE ESSENTIAL!
Learn MoreIn his plea to parents and students, Thwaites said: “Grow where you are planted; work with your child’s school to make it better.”
Marcia McCausland-Wilson, president of the National Parent Teacher Association of Jamaica, is singing from the same hymn sheet as the minister. “What we want is for parents to understand that this year, because the grades are good, students who have done well will be placed at upgraded high schools and they can perform well nonetheless,” McCausland-Wilson told The Gleaner. She added: “I can only say to the students, bloom where they are planted; and parents, wherever the students go, support them and help build the schools.”
I wish GSAT would leave the earth – News/Video Link – JamaicaObserver.com
VIDEO: ‘I wish GSAT would leave the earth’ – News – JamaicaObserver.com.
“I see not only children suffering, but I see parents suffering,” he said. Results of the 2012 tests are expected to be released within a few days. The GSAT, which replaced the Common Entrance Examination in 19mathematics, Language Arts, Communication Tasks, Social Studies, and Integrated Science.
However, there have been increasing calls from parents and students to make adjustments to the exams, which have been blamed for traumatising children.
“The stress that people go through, the stress that it brings on our children, the disappointment afterwards are all hurting our kids, and I really wish that there could be some creative way of getting beyond this,” said Fuderich. “I know there are resource constrictions; I know… that there are schools that are interspersed across the island and people compete for the different schools, but somehow we have to do a better job, because the pressure that this puts on children is inexcusable,” he said.
Learn MoreThe Ministry of Education has undertaken a comprehensive review of the exam. The assessment team comprises a consortium from the University of Wolverhampton, Pearson Educational Unit and DPK Jamaica Limited.
The findings of the assessment are expected to be ready by yearend and will guide the ministry on what changes are needed to make the exam more age-appropriate.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/-I-wish-GSAT-would-leave-the-earth-_11675739#ixzz1xympKfUj
Test time
We love these suggestions. Having a plan is always reassuring, no matter how young you are. its reassuring for nervous parents too!
Learn MoreLETTER OF THE DAY – Find GSAT replacement – Letters – Jamaica Gleaner – Thursday | April 26, 2012
LETTER OF THE DAY – Find GSAT replacement – Letters – Jamaica Gleaner – Thursday | April 26, 2012.
The elitist nature of the GSAT exam is reinforced by the Ministry of Education in two ways. The top performers of the exams are sent to a limited number of high-performing high schools, and candidates with the lowest scores are also sent to a number of low-performing high schools.
Therefore, from day one the selection process is flawed and plays into the socio-economic divide that is so pervasive… Education should be a catalyst to bridge the gap in society, not widen it.
***
With regard to the GSAT not being a true measurement of a student’s ability, take the example of the subject, communication task. This exam is divided into two parts: an essay section marked out of 6, and the other, a short answer section which requires students to fill out information using a given prompt, also marked out of 6.
Determining average student
In quite a number of instances, a student can score six out of 12 in communication task, and that candidate could be seen as being an average student by virtue of scoring 50 per cent. However, that same candidate can omit to do the essay section or may have scored zero in that section.
This scenario happens more often than not and can be interpreted by a given school that the student entering their institution is an average student in that subject.
Of course, this would be far from the truth, as many of those ‘average’ students could be, and should be, classified as functional illiterates.
This article speaks of diversity, and testing techniques.
What do you think should be the hallmarks of a new system for student placement in our secondary schools?
Learn MoreSnapshot Exam: GSAT ‘unsuitable’
GSAT ‘unsuitable’ – Lead Stories – Jamaica Gleaner – Monday | April 9, 2012.
Learn More“I don’t think that one exam should be used to determine the placement because the ministry has always encouraged us as educators that we should use different forms of assessment,” the senior educator said. Dr. Maragret Bailey.
Consultant clinical psychologist, Dr Karen Richards, (also) favoured continuous evaluation with school-based assessments (SBA) over just sitting exams, which she described as a snapshot.
Richards said it might be beneficial for the ministry to undertake a psychological assessment of the children preparing to sit GSAT to see how they cope with the stress associated with the exam. As it now stands, Richards said many of the children are under the impression that GSAT is a life-changer or a life-defining moment at the tender age of 11 when the truth is that many of them will have other opportunities in life.
“What we are saying to the children is that what you do now will determine who you are in the future. I don’t think there is anything further from the truth,” said the clinical psychologist.
GSAT JOY
Jamaica Gleaner News – GSAT JOY – Lead Stories – Friday | June 18, 2010.
But while the official results will be released today, those wishing to see the list of scholarship winners will have to wait about two weeks.
The GSAT results will determine the grade-seven placements assigned to all 48,200 candidates who sat the examination on March 25 and 26. The students were from 797 public and 207 private schools. Included in the number are 17 children who were homeschooled.
How are our home-schooled children measuring up in GSAT and beyond?
Learn MoreGSAT gloom – Ministry disappointed with Jamaica’s national averages (2008)
GSAT replaced the Common Entrance Examination in 1999. Performance in the test determines the placement of students in secondary schools.“We are not comfortable with those averages because we would like for students to do well,” Lawrence told The Gleaner last night.
The averages for all the subjects last year were not available yesterday, but the education ministry said there was an improvement in mathematics this year which had a national average in the 40s in 2007.
Looking back adds a new perspective. A national average of less than 50 in Mathematics!? We have our eyes peeled for this years analysis.
Learn MoreMy fix for GSAT placement woes
My fix for GSAT placement woes – Commentary – Jamaica Gleaner – Sunday | November 6, 2011.
2010 data show that:
1. The top-five schools, as judged by student preference, have 1,300 places; 9,000 students selected these schools as their first choice.
2. The top-10 schools, judged by student preferences had a total 2,565 places; 14,000 students selected them as first choice.
3. The top-20 schools, judged by student preferences had a total of 4,720 places; 24,239 selected these schools as first choices.
4. In 2011, Campion College, which has 210 places, had 1,635 students selecting the school as their first choice. That suggests that only one in every eight students would be successful in ‘passing’ for Campion.
Critical information already acquired from the GSAT review. How can we manage expectations and increase the number of “preferred schools”
Proposed solution
While the long-term solutions exist in the improvement of all schools to a minimum standard and the establishment of a minimum infrastructural blessing that includes an equipped science lab, computer lab, study area, library, playing field and canteen, there is need for a short-term solution which I suggest exists in a model I term the Realistic Objective School Selection Scenarios (ROSSS).
Interesting short term approach. Has the review term or the foreign review consultant been given access to this proposal?
Learn More