( L - R ) Dixon, Molloy

A shortage of resources is placing an additional burden on non-traditional high schools already struggling with the quality of students placed in these institutions.

"There is an obvious resource gap between students in the traditional high school system versus those at the non-traditional high schools. What we need is to balance this equation a little bit," Doran Dixon, president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association told The Gleaner.

According to Dixon, the education system needs to get to a point where institutions are no longer looked at as non-traditional versus traditional high schools.

He said the present classification is perpetuating a gap in the education system.

Working overtime

Dixon was supported by Nadine Molloy, president of the Jamaica Association of Principals for Secondary Schools, who told The Gleaner that despite the many challenges, teachers and principals in the non-traditional schools are working overtime to ensure that their students do well.

"Children learn differently and they have to be taught differently, and that is what we need to recognise and acknowledge before we can treat the problem," she said.

"We need to look at how well we are equipped, both through resources and through training to treat the situation that we have in front of us."

Reducing class sizes

Molloy said one of the first steps would be to reduce class sizes, because most teachers were burdened with overcrowded classrooms. Additionally, she said the education system was in need of more teachers who are equipped to deal with students with special needs.

"We need to have the facility that will allow us to address the social and emotional challenges that the students face," she said.

athaliah.reynolds@gleanerjm.com