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Archive for the ‘Education’


Editor’s note: This article was written by Edward Lawrence and published in the Nov 28th,2008 issue of the Chronicle Newspaper.

The disposition to provide the atmosphere conducive to the overall development of students must supersede every other inclination, particularly those which may not be of direct benefit to our school-aged children.

This ought to be tied to the belief that students are to be the focus of attention for teachers and school administrators. It would be logical therefore, to ensure that students receive the requisite support and encouragement at all times.

Those of us who are familiar with the literature on student achievement will conclude with much proof and unwavering certainty that in order that no child be left behind there must be a comprehensive support system. Furthermore, the central tenets of this philosophy includes, among other things, the mandate to accord the highest priority to quality instruction and an unparalleled teacher empowerment programme. In addition, management and governance practices based on calculated and continuously robust assessment are profoundly important for accountability and sustained improvement.

Effectiveness in the classroom should not only be measured by the yard¬stick of overall academic performance in internal and external examinations. This is by no means an attempt to trivialise the proficiency of students and the pedagogic prowess of our teachers. However, we must be keen to recognise beneficial changes in attitudes in our students, particularly those who, in our estimation, were headed for the academic abyss or those who constituted an ever-present security threat to the stability of the school.

Those who might have appeared to have slipped through the cracks or were destined to meet this fate in the absence of remediation, but were successful in beating the odds, are to be complemented and their teachers should receive the necessary accolades. Further, we must, of necessity, pause to direct kudos to some of our students who, by no stretch of the imagination, could be described as “academics” but made steady progress throughout the term. To some of these students, a step, however minuscule represents quite an achievement.

One of the greatest challenges for every generation of educators is the selection of information and processes that are of most worth to our students. Not only this but these activities most have the potential to capture students’ interest.This does not necessarily mean that these interests ought to be considered extraneous to the teachers’ plans, nor students’ determination to learn. What is of critical importance is the teacher’s ability to use students interests in the furtherance of their goals.

Whatever adds meaning¬fully to the child’s under¬standing, his aptitude for growth and development, his comfort, his ability, his sense of freedom to explore can be said to be true education. Hence, those who wish to add value to the raw talents of students and their discernible inclination to achieve must be prepared to create the atmosphere within which these can take place. The classroom is ideal for engineering students’ growth and facilitating students’ achievement.

As the outcry against the teacher-dominated class¬rooms approximates deafening proportions, practitioners will be mandated, as a matter of pedagogic principle, to respond favourably and allow students the requisite latitude to take responsibility for their own learning.

It is inevitable that under these circumstances the child’s self-esteem will increase. As such, much greater emphasis ought to be placed on appropriate teaching strategies. Further, classroom setup must change and certainly, space should not be a constraint. Abstract ideas and concepts that are far removed from the child’s experiences and encounters make learning difficult.

Without doubt, a positive learning environment includes high expectations for student participation and learning as well as student behaviour, encouraging meaningful learning and working relationships. Of course, this demands a much greater capital investment and unprecedented motivation on the part of teachers. This latter requirement is a surmount¬able challenge which can be overcome if the collective political will given free play in the process.

It is apparent that society places greater responsibilities on the school. Pastoral care is rapidly becoming an area of major concern. Moreover, the school seems to be competing for the attention of students. Against this background, the school has to offer a product and advertise a culture of independence within which students can be masters of their destiny.

There is no better way to do this than to first offer a varied curriculum and to engender a paradigm shift in educational technology utilised by teachers. In the end we must be consumed by the maxim that learning is best achieved by doing.

For one thing, the school cannot do these alone. Certainly, schools must be ever prepared to form strong alliances with the community, exchanging resources and feeding on each other, of course, in a symbiotic relationship.

Schools can be regarded as a source, an indomitable pillar of discipline, morality and steadfastness. Children can take what they need and want to carry on the business of their own education with the help of the teachers, who, it must be said, are indispensable.

Schools are indeed places where ideological conflict is being waged on a daily basis. Teachers and parents must act as mediators, not necessarily imposing their will on students but presenting viable alternatives and assisting them to make wise choices.

Unless we have faith in the eagerness and ability to grow and learn, we cannot help and can only harm his education.We must admit that the apparent increase in the school’s functions must occasion a corresponding increase in the necessary resources. Where this is not the case the burden will undoubtedly become heavier, augmenting the level of frustration of staff and students alike.

The urge to allow students to be responsible for their own learning can only deepen if our teachers understand that students are naturally curious. This can be further encouraged if motivation is an integral part of lessons.

Our conviction must be centred around the positive results that can be obtained when there is greater capital expenditure in the area of education. Certainly our teachers must be encouraged to sharpen their skills at every available opportunity. As often as possible, they must be assisted in the areas of classroom management and exposed to the strategies to deal with students with special needs. In the absence of these, we will lose a significant part of the nerve centre of the teaching profession and will be burdened by our incessant attempts to retain students, who, for all intents and purposes, have dropped out of school despite the fact that they sit in our classrooms on a daily basis.

It is imperative that the school be viewed as an integral component of out society. A natural consequence of this ideological paradigm is the active participation of community groups and organizations in the development and sustenance of our schools as institutions charged with the awesome responsibility of fashioning and equipping students with the expertise for national development.

Now, more than ever,our schools must position themselves to reap greater benefits from the private sector and other community groups, all in an effort to create an environment that is more conducive to student learning. The success of our students in various fields of endeavour will inevitably benefit the wider society.

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Editor’s note:This article was written by Edward Lawrence and published in the Oct 3rd,08 issue of the Chronicle Newspaper.

It is Indeed opportune to establish a reasonable pace in the race towards social and economic advancement.

Our journey to join the rest of the developed world must involve the total commitment of our resources, both human and material. If not, we may take decades to do so, or in a worst-case scenario, we may never get there.

It is senseless, for example, to clamour for the opportunity to be an integral part of the movement towards regional unity and our people are not in a position to reap maximum benefit. Through education and training, our people will be well placed to take advantage of any actual and potential opportunities that emerge from our alignment to significant groups or territories.

Only the possession of tremendous wisdom on the part of small nations’ leaders can guarantee the elevation in the quality of the human resource. We all may be tempted to assume that contemporary politicians in administrative, decision-making positions not only recognise the obvious, but also do the obvious, that is, spend more on the education of persons. The emphasis must be on people-centred development, this is genuine development.

Every country needs to attain the highest level of infrastructural development that is permissible under prevailing circumstances. The demands of modern industry and communication must be satisfied. A substantial part of the effort should include the provision of facilities which make trade and commerce easier.These facilities are desirable and worthy of relentless pursuit, however, of greater importance is the attempt to sharpen the skills of nationals. This is what we ought to concern ourselves with here. Infra-structural development is an evitable consequence of human resource development, hence, the emphasis must be on personal advancement of individuals.

As the century rapidly progresses, the thrust towards the education of the masses must be intensified. The absence of mineral resource should compel those in authority to look in the right direction. It is customary for the leaders of a country to formulate policies that will facilitate economic and social development. Chief among them would be the establishment of a priority list that is consistent with the needs of the country. Needless to say, this list must be set up after intense thought and consultation. This is absolutely necessary because it is becoming even more apparent that the race for sustainable development will assume greater importance as other territories jostle for positions of economic and political prominence.

Like many other nations in the developing world, our economic survival depends, for the most part, on our ability to sharpen the skills of our people and to motivate them in a manner that will increase their self-worth. Having equipped our people for survival and the world of work, they must be presented with the opportunities for them to contribute to the advancement of their country. This is of vital importance since there is the implicit assumption that those who succeed at school will be absorbed in the job market.

Our small island is confronted with the enormous task of managing its scarce resources amidst the need to educate its people up to the tertiary level and beyond. The aim should be to create multi-faceted and multi-talented people. There will always be the need for the specialists but we must seek to increase the number of people who can adapt to changing global conditions. Economic and social trends will change, there is no doubt about that! Flexibility and the ability to shift emphasis from one productive area to the next will be the key to the attainment of economic stability.

Because financial resources are scarce, there must be the attempt to seek assistance from friendly nations. Experience would have taught us that nations do not remain friendly forever. As such, there is the need to broaden our circle of friends in the inter¬national community. This, however, should be done with skill and much fore¬sight. Also, out own efforts must be planned and provisions should be made for unforeseen circumstances We must never put all eggs in one basket, This is becoming more apparent as we intensify our thrust towards tourism, example.

It will certainly be to our disadvantage if we compromise our sovereignty and allow ourselves to be dictated to by powerful nations. For the most part, some oi our traditional well-wishers have diverted both their sympathy and funds to other parts of the world. This should, in fact, inspire our leaders and others oi good repute to recognise the efforts of those who have our interests at heart and create the ambience for further discourse. Our leaders must be careful too, that they do not allow themselves to be drawn into diplomatic or political disputes involving nations who have their own axe to grind.

Our collective pursuit of excellence will be hampered by the lack of foresight on the part of leaders who fail to appreciate the fact that greater budgetary allocations must be made for education. Education here does not necessarily involve the formal setting in the classroom. The process has to continue, involving the community and its resources, both human and material. Under ideal conditions, our school would have the capacity to conduct many activities with the potential to impact, not only students under their care but the community at large.

However, since these schools are unable to do so, they ought to work collaboratively with community partners. Such a symbiotic relationship can only augur well for the development of our people.The process of educating nationals will never be completed, however, as individuals acquire skills and expertise they must be utilized in the most efficient manner regardless of their social status or political affiliation.

We must appreciate the value of the physical infrastructure. However, there must be similar concern for the development of the human mind. The capacity to engage in independent thought and to discuss issues critical to national advancement must forever be fostered. This can only happen if the facilities are put in place. Of course, there must be the will to do so. In the rural areas, the village councils or village improvement committees must get to work sooner rather than later and engage villagers in discussions or other sessions where they are given the opportunity to do some critical thinking about issues affecting them and to look at objective ways of solving them. The goal would be to develop their creative and problem-solving skills.

It is indeed the opportune time to question politicians on their strategies to realise people-centred development. They need to be held, to a certain extent, for the ignorance and lack of intellectual development of the people in their constituencies. Their level of seriousness about the issue should speak volumes about their suitability for positions of leadership. It would appear that the issue of people-centred development will be debated well into the future. This may be necessary until such time that something meaningful and far-reaching is done about it.

Those in public office, who assumed these positions based on the promises that were made during election campaigns, should be made to honor these promises and eventually, held accountable for the lack of development of these people. Programmes must be tailored to achieve consistency with their aptitudes and inclinations with the result that the people can find employment to take care of their basic needs. In the absence of this, there will be nothing short of a waste of resources since a significant proportion of them will fall through the cracks created by short-sighted mercenaries who feast on the ignorance of people.

A perpetual challenge of this country is the fashioning of the collective will in a manner which brings benefits. It will take more than “flag days” and recitations of the national pledge and majestic declarations to instill patriotism in our people.

Certainly, there is a need for individuals to feel that their efforts are valued and rewards are delivered accordingly. Meritocracy, the principle of just rewards and equity arc valuable starting points from which our efforts at unity should begin. Collectively, it is easier to reap maximum rewards.

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Editor’s note: This article was written by Edward Lawrence and published in the Sep 19th, 2008 issue of the Chronicle Newspaper.

It would appear that in out part of the world, it is a popular option for our leaders to depend on the directives of their new masters.

Moreover,it is possible for some leaders to be unanimously elected by the people but, in fact, pass the reigns of power over to elements both in and out of the country.

This would involve the conceptualization and implementation of ideas as well as taking key decisions. Any attempt to offer oneself for positions of leadership should be preceded by periods of intense thought, bearing in mind that it takes great effort and sacrifice to govern a country like ours.

Against this background, our leaders must resist the temptation to make promises which they know are extremely difficult and even impossible to honour. Rather, they must attempt to paint a realistic picture of our circumstances and devise ways of approaching them. Having done this , it may be much easier to get support from friends and well-wishers.

The current state of economic turbulence can erode public confidence in leadership at the national level. Consequently, the efforts of a few will be thwarted by the apathy of the majority who lose the zeal to work for the national good. No government is able to move a country forward without the Support of the people regardless of their political complexion. To doubt this is to fail to understand the dynamics and significance of people participation. Receipt of the popular vote is a license to serve , not to dictate to or alienate those who are endowed with ultimate power.

At the moment, it is not necessary to enumerate those areas . that warrant special mention but the dangers confronting our youth as well as the ease with which skilled persons are leaving our shores are worthy of more than mere mention. Moreover, the often spoken about tourist industry needs much more publicity if it is to compete with that in other destinations in the region and beyond. It is still shameful for us as a nation that Dominica remains unknown to many persons in North America and Europe.

Certainly, in this regard questions must be raised regarding the efficiency of our overseas tourism offices. Somehow, there is a need to engage those in the diaspora with a view to increasing their capacity to sell Dominica as a unique tourist destination. Certainly, it is not enough to orchestrate a media frenzy, advertising Dominica on the eve of national events such as Carnival or the World Creole Music Festival. In fact, the national interest will be better served if there is a never-ending endeavour to promote this country as a unique tourist destination.

The failure of our past economic ventures should not serve as a deterrent. Rather, it should equip us with the conviction that expert planning and organisation are an absolute necessity. Every deliberate national focus should include a profound resolve to improve the lot of our young people and those who have opted to return to make a contribution to national development. It would appear that there is an. increase in the number of persons who are becoming dejected and dissatisfied with the local political and economic climate. Of course, this is nurtured, in part, through the misconception held by some young persons that society owes them so much. They have taken solace in the promises made to them by those vying for political office, particularly during pre-election campaigns.

This country can ill-afford a major social upheaval orchestrated by disenchanted young people, neither can it withstand the wrath of adults whose purchasing power dwindles with every passing day. It will therefore do us a world of good if economic growth leads to equity and is measured in real terms. However, a necessary precondition is the creation of an atmosphere within which the average individual can take care of his basic needs. For the manifestation of tangible economic fortunes, our nationals must be assured that their efforts and sacrifices are not only valued but also transformed into visible progress.

A country will be judged by its ability to take care of its people. It can only do so if there is significant economic growth. Besides, there are tremendous benefits to be had when a country takes measures to make its people comfortable. Further, the vital tourist industry will come under threat if visitors are accosted, threatened or robbed by beggars or the homeless. Once again, the future of the tourist industry will be jeopardized if there is a high level of poverty thus forcing individuals to live in squalid conditions.

The current thrust in tourism should not be undertaken at the expense of the agricultural sector. We must be persuaded by the fact that this nation is well served by the elements. Thus, our future is tied with agriculture. It would be utterly unrealistic to view it any other way. Without doubt, an increased emphasis on agriculture would focus on the export market, thus keeping rural folks gainfully employed . An inevitable but desirable consequence of this is a reduction in the national food import bill.

It will be very difficult to persuade nationals to divert attention and effort towards national development if they are not convinced that they have a stake in die matter. Likewise, those who perceive that their efforts are not valued will be reluctant to contribute. This should never be allowed to happen.

At this juncture, our endeavours must be centred around the strategies that were employed to assist economic growth. Of course, they must be assessed to gauge their effectiveness. Having done this, there must be the willingness to employ new ways of doing things. These should bear tangible fruits, regardless of the source of die recommendations.

True leadership will seek to establish and sustain an inventory of the resources at our disposal and use them efficiently.

It never pays to appear helpless , particularly when there are persons with expertise and are willing to contribute towards the advancement of this country. The onus is always on those at the helm to confer a level of independence on those who have ideas and practical skills. Leaders who feel threatened by such persons can best be described as cowards.

These leaders are destined to retard the growth of our country. Those at the level of leadership and governance must pride themselves on their resolve to be circumspect and level-headed, particularly in matters of national significance. In an era of fierce competition and rising commodity prices maximum use must be made of all available expertise. Of course, this must be done with prudence and extra-ordinary common sense.

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