Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Mar 23, 2015 Letters
Dear Editor,
While the restoration of democracy under the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic Government allowed, inter alia, for renewal of the rights to peaceful protests; such protests must be purposeful, objective, and not seen as obstreperous or impinging on the rights of others; moreso, where these others are minors whom adults such as parents, teachers and other adults are expected to guide in the right direction.
Students’ protests, moreso where these are coercive and/or a result of the use of undue influence on the part of parents and other adults with their own agenda and political axe to grind could not be construed as one of those interventions that support children’s learning. These determinedly are interventions that are aimed at satisfying the personal agenda of the adults who fuel these protests.
The protests by parents, other adults and students of the St John’s Secondary School at Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara, Region 3 and more recently, Christianburg Primary School, must be seen as a clear case of some parents and adults putting their own personal interests first and indeed begs the question: what ought to be the nature and extent of the involvement of Parent Teacher’s Associations in the affairs of schools and school related activities? Should their involvement not be guided by what is best for the children; what is best in our children interests? Should parents focus not be on ensuring that the use of school time and resources both human and material, be optimized in their children’s best interest? But alas, what do we find!
The police had to be summoned to deal with traffic congestion on the West Coast caused by the adults and students who placed tyres in the middle of the road. What attitudes and what values are we imparting to our children?
Instead of committing and working with the Department of Education of the Region and by extension the Ministry of Education and our Government that attaches so much importance and the concomitant resources to finance educational improvements and access to this education, the adult protestors are exposing our children to the wrong attitudes and values. Instead of supporting our Government’s determined efforts to continue to improve quality education in the Regions and our children’s continual access thereto; instead of joining with our Regional Education Officers, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of local Government and Regional Development in canvassing teachers and the community to work together in a unified advocacy for improved quality education for their children; rather than be concerned with our children’s safety as they protest, some parents allow themselves to be exploited by others with a political agenda that could not benefit parents or children.
Parents, residents of Den Amstel and Christianburg, teachers and students: consider the huge investment Government has been making in education in our country since it was elected to govern in 1992. Consider our investment in books, furniture, school uniforms, hot meals/snacks, teacher upgrade and training, CXC subsidies and the opportunity costs of these investments. Consider also the success story of the thousands of students across our 10 Administrative Regions who have gone on to higher learning and their success stories. Include in this list our hinterland people and our Amerindian students who, under conditions that are in some instances and areas not as comfortable as the ones you enjoy and enquire and read their success stories.
Parents, encourage your child to value education and to value every second, minute, hour spent in school. Be assured that the very PPP/C Government that has provided the resources to improve the quality of education available to the children and adults in our country will continue, subject to available resources, to provide more resources since we recognize that the education of our children is a continuous process. Help us to help your child. Parental involvement in children’s education must set realistic, meaningful and achievable expectations. Help us to help your child. Protests will not help. Let’s talk.
Minister Norman Whittaker
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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