The Editor, Sir:

I have read your treatise and must admit that I am for the most part sympathetic to those who hold such a view. However, having had the opportunity to study the genesis and development of our education system, including the many reform efforts, I have come to the conclusion that Jamaica needs an education czar who will unify the top spread over Heroes Circle, Caenwood and the regions, and bring focus to those who implement the national goal of educating our children in the classroom.

Well-defined vision

As such, I have identified a stream of activities that needs to be pursued at this point in time and driven by the minister of education himself. (Note: Driven does not mean that he will implement the measures, but that he will convey such a clear, well-defined vision that the nation will know what to expect when our children go out to school each day. Further, I am in no way suggesting that we need a messianic figure.) This stream must be a set of immediate, pragmatic remedial steps, alongside the longer-term reformation steps that are now being pursued.

In the shorter term, the minister needs to define a programme that has no more than five tenets, with a charge to each principal (under the guidance of the regional heads) to achieve these established targets over a specified time. The targets may be modified in keeping with local conditions and the methodologies closely monitored by education officers.

Goals and achievements

As it relates to the education transformation effort that is currently being pursued, a healthy dose of information as to its goals and achievements to date would certainly assist with our ability to rally around that cause.

I am, etc.,

DWIGHT PENNYCOOKE

dpennycooke@yahoo.com

Kingston 20

Via Go-Jamaica