THE EDITOR, Sir:

I must commend Esther Tyson, principal of Ardenne High School, who continues to analyse, objectively, the situation in our nation's high schools through her insightful and balanced views.

Her article, 'Unfair School Comparisons? The Impact of Social Issues on Students' Performance', published in The Sunday Gleaner of May 18, brings forcefully to our attention, the inequity in the school system.

The publication of the ranking of schools based on CSEC results caused consternation among some principals, particularly of the non-traditional high schools. I read the article with the same eye with which Tyson did and came to the same conclusion.

Moving from talk to action

In 2006, my letter entitled 'A National Standard urged for High Schools' was published in The Daily Gleaner, and I take this opportunity to once again urge the Ministry of Education to consider the establishment of such a standard.

When a standard is in place, along with the resources provided for it to be implemented, then, and only then, can we seriously and meaningfully move from talk to action in such areas as student performance, teacher performance and school performance; then and only then will the ranking of schools, according to results of examinations, have more meaning.

Apart from giving kudos to the authors of these statistical comparisons, the results must be properly analysed with a view to taking corrective action. However, should we continue to compare apples and oranges, we certainly would not have moved a centimetre forward in dealing with any of the crises stymieing our education system.

I am, etc.,

D.M.O. MITCHELL

Dianne.m.o.m@gmail.com