SINCE I was in school over 30 years ago, the Ministry of Education has not changed its curriculum or modus operandi. Is it because they are afraid that teachers will actually have to upgrade themselves and do work in order to keep up with the times, and their union will cause chaos?

Why should they have to upgrade and actually work for their money when they can just continue to get increases, increments and backpay for teaching the same thing year after year, on repeat, without even having to change their administered tests when the year changes?

Most of those who are still teaching only needed O-Levels to be a teacher. Yet we constantly have to hear about how unfair it is to them and the bellyaching about their 4% increase which, in my opinion, was not deserved because without paying for extra lessons, your child does not pass any major exam.

As a parent, I should not have to pay for extra lessons when teachers should ensure that children are prepared for exams; and if their mode of delivering the materials is not working, they should at least try and change their approach, especially since they have so much technology available to them, instead of taking their many days off when they already have all their school vacations.

It’s sad to think that in 2024, with access to such advanced technology and AI sites, that we are still trying to teach our children the same old curriculum and expecting them to care, or rather, seeing the point of education when they can get this information readily available to them at any time.

Firstly, we need a new administration with a vision for our education system, so that we can implement subjects and techniques that are useful to children when they leave school, so that they can actually get jobs and not resort to crime.

I can attest to the fact that nothing that is taught in school is useful in getting a job. Connections and experience are what are important in securing jobs, and have been for a long time. They need internships before they graduate, so that they can get both.

And get rid of these outdated tests at the end of their stint in each level that only put pressure on children and have no bearing on what they are capable of or whether they can get work after school.

We all know that not all children have the patience or fortitude to study. Vocational studies should be added to the curriculum for secondary schools, so that these children have a choice in what they want to do and become because not all children want to become a lawyer or doctor, and during Covid, the persons who were still getting an income were the barbers, hairdressers, mechanics and electricians.

We are so stuck in our ways that we will never be able to get out of this Third World mentality, and the only people suffering are our children.

Shyntra Gosine Chaguanas