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Reading challenge is a widespread problem, says primary school principal

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Mark Jackson, Principal of Ascot Primary School
By Prince Moore
 
One school administrator says the reading challenges being faced at Pembroke Hall High School are not isolated.
 
Principal of Ascot Primary Mark Jackson believes the reading deficiency cited at Pempbroke Hall High recently is also present in several other high schools across the island.
 
His comments follows a report that, up to early this year, more than 70 per cent of Grade 7 students at Pembroke Hall High were unable to read or were reading at or below Grade 3 level.
 
Mr Jackson says there is a need for the Ministry of Education to implement an accountability framework to identify and address weaknesses in children at an early stage.
 
Applying that approach, he said, "the results that come from the JSRA at the infant school level; an action plan or a programme should be implemented to address those weaknesses," then, at the start of primary school, when they do the required entrance examination for primary school, "we should further see the gaps and build on that."
 
"I don't see why so many of our high schools should continue to be receptors of under performing students in reading, but it (has been) the reality for years, and unless the Ministry put an accountability framework in place, we're going to see this regurgitation of under performance in reading," he concluded.
 
Infant School
 
But, Ceereta McFarlane Richards, Principal of Ascot Infant School, says infant schools should not be blamed for learning delays exhibited by students in high schools.
 
She says there are various factors that contribute to delays in learning at that level, noting that at the start of basic school the staff have to focus on fundamental development adjustments, including potty-training some of the children.
 
"Many of them are not yet writing; they're not yet talking... and at this level, our mandate is to ensure that they are ready to move on," she explained.
 
She defined "readiness" at this level of the educational process as ensuring that "the children have the basic necessities to matriculate to the primary school level," with Phonemic awareness, numeracy awareness, and various literacy awareness."
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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