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JTA Calls For More Focus On Social Decline Among Students | RJR News - Jamaican News Online
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JTA calls for more focus on social decline among students

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Winston Smith
 
Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) President Winston Smith says there is too much focus on academic loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic and not enough on the social gap among students.
 
Mr. Smith says the social decline is evident by the number of school fights since the resumption of face-to-face learning.
 
He says the JTA commissioned a survey among teachers which showed that 81 per cent of respondents said children had regressed in social skills.
 
It is for this reason, the JTA believes the matter needs to be urgently addressed. 
 
"It is incumbent, therefore, that the demand for guidance counsellors in every school become [sic] of great import, coupled with the need for social workers in the sector," Mr. Smith asserted while addressing a church service in Manchester on Sunday to mark JTA's 58th anniversary.
 
"I submit to all of us that while it may cost much to implement these recommendations, it is our considered view that it will cost us far much more if we fail to implement them," he told those gathered at the function.   
 
Mr. Smith said the social issues among students have always been present in schools, leading educators to focus a lot of the teaching and learning time on intervention.
 
While he did not suggest teachers stop intervening to assist students dealing with social issues, he called for parents and churches to play a more integral role in the resocialisation of children. 
 
Last week, Education Minister Fayval Williams said the ministry would be collaborating with the National Security Ministry to target 97,000 vulnerable families to assess the living conditions of children who exhibit behavioural challenges.
 
Political interference                               
 
The JTA president also raised the issue of political interference on school boards, arguing that this practice should cease.
 
Recently, there was controversy surrounding the appointment of a new board of management for St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) in St. Elizabeth.
 
Members of the STETHS fraternity were upset that the appointments were made without their input or consultation.
 
Commenting on the issue on Sunday, Mr. Smith said the JTA is in full support of the removal of political interference from the naming of school boards. 
 
"We believe if we do not remove political interference then we will contribute to the destruction of our [education sector] and as members of the JTA, we stand resolute to protect the integrity of our profession, the children and the future of Jamaica, land we love," he declared. 
 


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