I read with much interest Barbara Blake-Hanna's article titled 'The value of home schooling', in The Gleaner of July 28. Like her, I am impressed by what she describes as "the noble and unceasing efforts of Education Minister Andrew Holness to tackle the literacy levels of our nation's students".

Holness is anxious for parents to recognise their responsibility and role in their children's learning process. What Barbara Blake-Hanna has done is to give us the rationale and describe significant ways in which to carry out this responsibility.

More attention

Among other things, she points out that the young child learns the language that he hears around him. I think we need to give more attention to this matter of the language which our children learn to speak in their first three years.

Ms Blake-Hanna tells us how her son learned to read in his first three years. The question is: What language did he become fluent in during those critical early years? Let us face it. The language situation in Jamaica continues to be at the root of the weak literacy skills and the poor academic achievement of a large proportion of our students. It is a situation where the language of instruction in schools is different from the language most of our children first learn to speak. Such a situation need not become a problem; but it will become one unless we learn how to deal with it adequately, professionally.

I am convinced that when we do tackle the language situation effectively, the results will render unnecessary most of the plans being made and the money being spent by Minister Holness on transforming education in Jamaica.

I am, etc.,

FAITH LINTON

PO Box 47

St Ann's Bay