JohnsonAnthony Johnson, Contributor
The recent decision by the Minister of Education to overturn the decision by the Munro school board has created a major crisis in our education system that needs to be addressed immediately.
Although many people have focused on the issues of ganja smoking in schools, discipline, the role of rehabilitation, and other areas, few persons have discussed one of the most important issues: the relationship of the Minister of Education to school boards.
As a direct result of the minister's actions, the majority of the non-staff members of the Munro board each man in his own right a well-respected and highly experienced person have resigned from the board.
As a direct result of the minister's actions, the Parent Teachers Association of Munro has come out publicly and expressed its support for the board and the principal.
As a direct result of the ministers actions, school board members, principals, and teachers across Jamaica have now become unsure and uncertain about the extent to which they may impose punishment and, more broadly, the extent to which decisions they take in running their schools will be overturned by the minister.
ARROGANT DECISION
The act of overturning a decision of a school board by a Minister of Education is a very serious one. It is not something that should be done lightly and, when it is to be done, must only be a last resort when all other avenues of arbitration, negotiation, and discussion have been exhausted.
The reason for overturning decisions only in extreme circumstances is simple: the minister cannot run every school, or even many schools. School boards, administrators, and principals must know that they have flexibility and broad discretion to take actions they believe necessary.
When the minister intervenes and overturns a decision unilaterally, it is viewed as an arrogant decision, it reduces the discretion and flexibility available to school boards, it demoralises and demotivates administrators, and it sends the wrong message to parents and students, undermining the ability of administrators and boards to run their schools effectively.
OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE
This is not to say that the minister should never overturn a school board decision. Rather, it is to say that the standard should be very high and it should rarely happen.
In the Munro case, the minister had several other options available to him than simply acting unilaterally. If he felt that the students' procedural rights were deprived, he could have asked the school board to review the decision and start all over again.
The minister could have appointed a special arbitrator to review the circumstances of the case and come to a mutually agreeable resolution.
The minister could have appointed a special commission, including a retired judge, to investigate the matter and make a ruling.
The point is that the minister did the wrong thing by unilaterally overturning the decision of a very capable, able, and experienced board.
NOT THE FIRST TIME
Unfortunately, the decision by the minister reflects the kind of approach the minister has taken on several other issues.
Last year, the minister announced that the Ministry of Education was going to fire 300 teachers. The subsequent uproar from school boards, the Jamaica Teachers Association, and others was so great, the Prime Minister had to intervene and postpone the decision pending a serious review.
Similarly, last year, the minister announced that he was not worried about the decision of schools from America and England to recruit Jamaican teachers because it would not have much impact on our schools. Subsequently, many principals, parents, and students have suffered in schools such as Marcus Garvey High in St. Ann, where the migration of teachers left many students without teachers.
STUDENTS WILL SUFFER
Once again, the minister has upset administrators, school boards, principals, teachers, and parents. Once again, the minister has acted unilaterally, and it is the students who suffer.
Munro has lost the volunteer talents of some of the finest minds in Jamaica. Munro's principal now has to look over his shoulder on every decision wondering when he will be overruled again. Parents of Munro students must now wonder if their students will receive adequate discipline. And Munro students have now learned that if they break the law and do not follow the rules, they will not suffer any major consequences because, as our Prime Minister has said, "the law is not a shackle."
Many people have lamented the breakdown in law and order and discipline in our society. It is often said that discipline begins at the top. If the minister has acted in such an egregious manner, why do we think our young people will behave any differently?
Those in positions of authority and responsibility have an obligation to set a higher standard of conduct. They must act in a manner that sends an appropriate message. And they must respect those who work with them. We must set an example and act more responsibly if we want to create a more disciplined, decent, and law-abiding society.
Senator Anthony Johnson is Opposition Spokesman on Education.
