NPTAJ says creative solutions must be found to limit learning loss

 

President of the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ) Stewart Jacobs is in support of school administrators having the final decision on reopening. 

 

Education Minister Dr. Dana Morris Dixon has said down to discussion with stakeholders, the minister made the decision to encourage the reopening of schools are possible.

 

But the Jamaica Teachers' Association has opposed the decision, saying it comes too soon after the hurricane caused much devastation and dislocation. 

 

Mr. Jacobs says while he accepts that the situation will cause learning disparity, especially for students preparing to set the CSEC exams, logic and creativity can lead to solutions. 

 

"For example, external exams, you could use the SBA for fifth term, and use that as the grade at the end of the school year, because they are going to be disenfranchised. Yes. But what you want is not to have one area of the population not going to school when they can go to school."

 

The Education Ministry is also looking at a proposal for affected students to be hosted by other schools. 

 

Mr. Jacobs believes the proposal can work.

 

"There are schools in the Corporate Area and parts of St. Catherine that have the space. Let me give an example. For example, Whitfield Primary...is probably about 60 per cent capacity. So there are 40-odd per cent of the space that is there. And then they have the Edward Seaga Primary School down the road. What can happen or what could be considered is at least three days out of the week, children from that area could be bused into Kingston, there have classes in these schools that have the space, and then they are transported back," he suggested. 

 

Mr. Jacobs, who was speaking Tuesday on the Morning Agenda on Power 106, said those schools which can be reopened could launch fundraising drives, with the proceeds going toward affected institutions.