Former Prime Minister Edward Seaga's article in The Sunday Gleaner headlined, 'Numbers count - in education', informs us that 85 per cent of our children fail to negotiate our educational system favourably. Only 15 per cent of all our children successfully pass the CXC/CSEC examination.

Likewise, on the front page of The Sunday Gleaner, we see that 84 per cent of our children are born to unwed mothers. This equates to only 16 per cent of our children being born to wedded mothers. Should the educational authorities analyse these similarities and probably start searching for solutions here?

Is the home such a big factor in our educational results? If it is, then we should launch a national campaign to encourage greater commitment by parents to each other and their children by getting married. If that commitment is not possible or convenient, then it would be advisable to postpone the introduction of children until then. A couple does not need to have money to get married, 'All you need is love'. Our children ought to be given a better chance.

I am, etc.,

Michael E. Lawe

mlawe@cwjamaica.com

Kingston 6