Caribbean News Now!

By D. Markie Spring
Turks and Caicos Islands

I cannot relax until our education system changes direction!

Before I am accused of being on a fault finding mission, let me stop for a moment and acknowledge the good parts of our daunting education system, which is designed to fail. First, under this government, more Vincentians have pursued higher education than before. Nowadays, students are studying in significant numbers in Cuba, Venezuela and Mexico. Second, more scholarship funds are now available to students who want to pursue higher education and, last, at home more institutions have been built or renovated to accommodate students at the primary and secondary levels, and school leavers.

The author of a number of published works, D. Markie Spring was born in St Vincent and the Grenadines and now resides in Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands. He has an MBA from the University of Leicester, England, and a BA from Saint Mary's University, Canada

However, the policies and procedures, rules and regulations of our retard education system is failing our students: there are no libraries in the suburban and rural areas, a medical college that has to be rescued, the technical colleges that seem to have no relevance anymore and the lack of direction and planning, and technical support governing our learning institutions and the mere fact that teachers, parents, taxpayers and of course the students are not involved in the planning process.

Notably, these factors are horrendous, but they are nothing in comparison to the political ad hominem that is currently blocking progress in our dejected education system.

With this comes to mind Elvis Daniel – this is a man who have been serving our communities in the teaching arena for 32 long years. As a matter of fact, Mr Daniel is the reason for our successes as students from as far as Biabou in the south to Fancy in the north; his record is exemplary and it is evident to everyone, even those who does not know him as their teacher. This man served almost the entire Charlotte Parish; spearheading students’ success at the primary and secondary school levels and those who pursued evening classes at Langley Park Government School and now upstairs Kenmars building in Kingstown!

Additionally, to better serve students, Mr Daniel pursued an M/ Phil in mathematics after his Bachelors at the University of West Indies. Evidently, he is in possession of two degrees in mathematics, which is a luxury in SVG – a subject area that is not typical amongst Vincentians and, for that matter, the wider Caribbean.

With all these qualifications, this prominent figure is barred from teaching mathematics, because he contested the 2010 general election against the ruling government. All this is happening while our students are failing. The country just released its CSEC results and could only obtain 18.5 percent (correct me if I am wrong) passes in mathematics at the national level, while Mr Elvis Daniel is demonstrating greater competence and success privately tutoring students.

How can the government of SVG stand before the people and released such hideous results? How can the government hold hostage the successes and futures of Vincentian boys and girls while the government is satisfying its apathetic beguile? Why are we accepting an ‘education revolution’ when our student cannot even analyze and solve a mathematical problem? How can Vincentians accept this erroneous, erratic petty behaviour?

Is this a government for all Vincentians or the chosen few? Does this idiotism remind you about Mitt Romney’s, the GOP’s presidential candidate’s political euphemism about 47 percent of Americans he does not care about? Why can’t we adapt the Obama legacy of fighting for the entire nation regardless of party or political affiliations! Look in President Obama’s cabinet and see how he employed Republicans to assist his administration; compare this to the political pettiness existing in SVG – creating imaginary political borders and divisions.

The last time I checked, Mr Daniel was not an alien dropped from the sky or invaded SVG from another country or planet. The man is a Vincentians who sought higher office like everyone else, including those who are in charge right now?

I often ask myself, is ‘the man’ a father, husband, breadwinner and God fearing as Mr Daniel who is obligated to his family? Looking deep into ourselves, there is no etiquette, clarity or godliness in those who are spearheading our education system. Sadly, everyone is so silent on this matter – it is almost a non-issue.

Intuitively, if our government did not know, there are many political points to be scored by reinstating Elvis Daniel in the education system; this should be a national and bipartisan decision that could put back our education system on the right track. Mr Daniel has the determination, credentials and capability to do so, not withholding his immaculate records.

I beg, reinstate Elvis Daniel, because our country needs him!

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John:

Markie Markie,
Could I beg or plead with you to please have a dialogue with me on this topic because I am a bit lost. So I am going to lay out the issue as I see it and you will correct me where I am wrong so that I can have a true picture of the issue. Can I be so bold to ask you that?
The Issue:
Mr. Elvis Daniel as qualified teacher for over 30 yrs as you state “RESIGNED” from his job to run for political office.
Agreement
The teachers union apparently had an agreement with the Government which states in my own words, that any public servant wanting to run for political office has to resign from their job and if they are unsuccessful, they “can/may” re-apply and “can/may” be re-employed.
Situation
So Mr. Daniel lost the election race he was engaged in and is now un-employed and the supporters of Mr. Daniel now sees the need for him to be re-employed as a teacher because as you say his absence is the main cause for the decline for the math results this year. Is his absence the cause for a similar decline in Jamaica and Dominica?
Question 1 - If I resign from my job to join another company and you were hired to replace me but after my probation period I was not hired permanently, should your employers now fire or demote you in order to accommodate me?
Question 2 – If I re-apply for the position and your employers tell me that they have no vacancy what actions can I take against them so that they can fire you for me to “get back my job”.
Question 3 – Are you Markie Spring saying that the only person in SVG who can teach math is Mr. Elvis Daniel and all the other teachers are incompetent? I did mathematics and my teachers (Gregory Sarker, Bradley Brooker, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Marcus (CC), and Mr. Wayne Young) were brilliant and during that time I never heard of Mr. Elvis Daniel so are you also saying they were also incompetent?
Note – if you know who these guys are then you will be able to deduce I went to St. Martins and Community College during the period 1992-1999 so I can’t be Simon Anderson.
Question 4 - If Mr. Daniel is reinstated, will he be teaching every single math student in SVG?
I don’t want to ask questions relating to political lines because once you decide to run for politics you have to accept the advantages and dis-advantages that just the nature of politics.
I want to go onto another statement which you made in your article which I have some more questions on. You mentioned, “However, the policies and procedures, rules and regulations of our retard education system is failing our students: there are no libraries in the suburban and rural areas, a medical college that has to be rescued, the technical colleges that seem to have no relevance anymore and the lack of direction and planning, and technical support governing our learning institutions and the mere fact that teachers, parents, taxpayers and of course the students are not involved in the planning process.”
How many libraries are in SVG excluding the main one in Kingstown?
Which medical college was rescued?
Why did the first medical college leave?
How many medical colleges are in SVG at the moment?
Has the enrollment rate and the courses offer at the technical college increased over the years?
How can we involve in the planning process the teachers, parents and taxpayers and of course the students?
Markie these are just a few questions which I hope you are brave enough to answer. If you don’t want to answer in this forum let me know I can give you an email address you can reach me on.

John

Vinci Vin:

Dear Mr. Markie Spring:

I can recognize your zeal to publicise problems in SVG (real or imagined). But in your hurry to heap blame on the Vincentian government you sometimes fail to present your arguments logically, fairly, gramatically or in relevance. You should accept the advice provide by "John" (regardless of who John is) in his comments above.

Now, I personally believe that you have all rights to point out the flaws of the ULP government and its leader, The Hon. Comrade Dr. Ralph Gonsalves (Ralph is never shy at criticising his opponents - real or imagined. In fact, as an informed Vincentian citizen, it is your imperative to criticize your government when warranted. And, I can see that no amount of vitriol from your detractors on this site can dissuade you from your quest to serve your country. God speed to you.

You have presented some useful information about conditions in SVG and make some potentially useful suggestions for economic developments in our homeland on this site. But more often than not, you just let your emotions run away with you. Discipline your emotions.

As you are a potential (Future) Vincentian leader, I suggest that you use your time wisely to develop your skills of analysis and communications, refrain from knee-jerk criticism of others and be fair in your evaluation of the ULP and Dr. Gonsalves. Remember, no one is totally good except God!

Here is something on which you and I might agree: No Vincentian at home or abroad should have to resign from their jobs in order to participate in the Vincentian political system as a canditate for election to government office. The ridiculous rules that hinders free participation in domestic Vincentian politics by Vincentian civil servants and Vincentians abroad should be repealed sooner than later. It robs the Vincent people and our society of valuable human resources that are critically needed for national development and shield those who are already enfranchised by the system from the essential competition that could breed innovative approaches to problem solving.

As the politicians like to say: " I am Vinci Vin Samuel and I approve these comments!"

Peter:

Give it a rest JOHN, we all know the answers, and we all know that when we answer, you poo poo what we write, fully well knowing we are right and you are wrong. That’s why we are ignoring you, we do not want to start on that stupid cycle again that HORACE WILLIAMS introduced with all his false names and bad mouthing really nice and decent people. SIMON ANDERSON-HORACE WILLIAMS-JOHN and several others [all one person], you will no longer be tolerated.

just take a peek at this and then put your feet up and contemplate the truth.
http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/topstory-Letter%3A-How-to-install-a-Marxist-Leninist-dictator-in-a-small-Caribbean-state-13423.html