Member of Parliament for Tabaquite, Mrs Anita Haynes Alleyne, is urging the Minister of Education to lead the charge in adopting a more sustainable and holistic approach to resolving ongoing issues.
This, as students across Trinidad and Tobago prepare for the new academic year.
In a statement on Wednesday morning, Haynes-Alleyne said: “I am hopeful for a smooth start to the new school year.”
“During a media conference last week, representatives of the Ministry of Education (MOE) reported on their preparations in key areas. While appreciated, there are still some concerns that must be addressed.”
According to the Education Shadow, in addition to recurrent issues such as school infrastructure repairs and the availability of student transportation services, there are also policy and education delivery provisions that require attention, “The results of this year’s examinations emphasise the need to treat with declining student performance across the board. Too many students are unable to attain acceptable passing grades. The MOE must ensure that teachers and school administrators are adequately equipped and supported to execute much-needed course correction.”
The Tabaquite MP is also paying close attention to the MOE’s response to recent industrial relations issues raised by teachers including late salary payment and severe delays in settling insurance claims, “Time and time again our teachers rise to the occasion in the face of new and unexpected requirements. Unfortunately, the challenges they face are seldom addressed with similar urgency. The MOE must improve its response to issues faced by teachers and other stakeholders, especially issues directly under its purview, as this is critical to maintaining a healthy education system.”
Haynes Alleyne asserts, “Our education sector is a key pillar of our society. As the saying goes, by failing to prepare, we prepare to fail. That is not to say everything will always be perfect. However, it is reasonable to expect that our leaders display a level of assessment and planning that inspires confidence. We must get things right, at all levels, so that future generations can have the best possible opportunity to succeed.