If one is to read the press release
from our Education Department one would think the 'satisfactory'
grade some of our schools received was bringing home a gold medal.

Sorry. It is far short.

Yes, there has been some improvement.
Thank goodness, because if 'satisfactory' isn't achieved it is a
disaster.

If you read the report carefully it
would seem the 'satisfactory' grade was only just met. It is
astonishing to me that schools book stock had been boosted not by
government but by local charity donations.

That is shocking!!!

The largest area of improvement was in
maths and the areas coming short was in reading and children's
behaviour. Teachers were, not surprisingly, having problems in
installing discipline. And the main reason for bad behaviour lies
with the parents.

There were many instances where the
school inspector's found inconsistency with the teaching staff. Are
there no checks in this area? This would seem to be the number one
requirement. How can pupils possibly obtain adequate, let alone high
grades, from bad teachers?

It is not all good news from the
private schools.

At the First Baptist School that is
owned by the church and caters from Kindergarten to Grade 6. 90% of
the parents surveyed said they thought their children were making
good progress. The good progress was in behaviour. Weak grade was
given to Mathematics and Reading and “Students’ skills, knowledge
and understanding in reading and writing did not meet internationally
expected standards.”

I expect the parents of the children
now will be demanding some answers. They are paying for quality
education not good behaviour, where most of that is learnt at home.

Good marks must go to George Town
Primary School Principal Sharon Campbell-Danvers, who took over the
school in August 2017, and has made a huge difference in turning the
school from an education disaster to now 'satisfactory'.

She organised many parent and student
conferences, and took guidance herself from professionals.

OES Director Peter Carpenter said the
school had turned a significant corner but “it must and can aim a
lot higher”.

I'm sure M/s Sharon Campbell-Danvers
already understands that piece of 'advice'.

The 'weak' hasn't become the 'strong'
and I hope 'satisfactory' hasn't become the standard. There are no
pats on the back for that grade.