Educating my child is too important to be left to the experts!

J. Roughan

8 January 2009

Honiara

                                 

 

Solomon Islands' parents most important investment is by far the education of their kids. More money, care and concern is invested on the education of their children than any other enterprise. Over more than a period of twelve years parents and relatives lay out thousands of hard earned dollars to insure that their child gets a decent education. No other family project, even the purchase of a family home, comes close to matching the dollars and time spent on insuring that a child gets a proper education. 

 

Recently the Ministry of Education has unveiled a major initiative, Free Education. This government scheme should make it easier for parents to send their child to school and not have to worry about paying big school fees. Unfortunately, the words used--Free Education--in the minds of some parents means something different from what was originally intended by those who came up with the basically good scheme in the first place.

 

Of course 'Free Education' doesn't exist any where in the world. The Government's large and on going investment in teacher training, salaries, school financial assistance grants, buildings, dormitories, etc. etc. forever puts the lie to the idea that such an expensive proposition as education could ever be 'free'. What is meant by 'free education' is a government plan, with overseas donor help, to help families send their child to school.

 

So many parliamentarians have been hounded over these past years by their constituents to help with school fees. Since this request  has  grown stronger and stronger, it only makes sense to directly help school children rather than going indirectly to the member and begging for this help. But financial help, although really needed by most parents, is probably the least important item in a long list of things called for to strengthen our schools and root education deeper in the hearts of our people than it really is.

 

On 19 January 2009, less than two weeks away, school doors open to begin a new year. After a break of almost two months, all Solomons schools are on notice to begin the new academic year with teachers in place, school supplies at the ready for the Headmaster, teachers and helpers to hand out to pupils and a fresh beginning for a whole new school year. Unfortunately, although headmasters and teachers have known the exact day for school opening, many schools won't open that day but stay closed until well into February.

 

The whole education process is not only our biggest industry by far but, in fact, the most important one. Honiara's traffic patterns, for instance, change dramatically once classes begin. Yet, so many teachers treat this major national enterprise as a distraction to more important parts of their lives as if their teaching work is not paid for by a monthly salary, NPF contributions, home leave entitlements and in some cases school contributions for daily transport needs, housing and extra assistance in cases of deaths of a family member.

 

That is why parents have to be much more alert and vigilant that their education investment really is being used well and creatively. It is not enough for a parent to accept that the local education experts--Ministry of Education, teachers, schools themselves--are properly using the funds wisely and well for the children placed in their care.

 

If a school starts classes late this year, why? Is it because teachers failed to come on time? Is the headmaster at post or is she still at home? Why are only a handful of teachers turning up? Does a class room still have the broken louver blades that should have been replaced during the break period?  What about teaching materials . . . is there enough chalk, pencils, dusters, etc? what about school books, are there sufficient for each child? pupil's desks, are they still not fixed? These are just a few items that a parent should be aware of when visiting with his child for the first day of school.

 

How much will a school fee help when classroom basics are lacking or broken beyond use? Will a government paid school fee make much difference if teachers are missing from post, if school toilets still don't work, if classroom supplies are lacking, etc. etc. No, school fees as important as they are, do not respond to the deep structural lacks that the school system suffers. Something more is needed! Parental concern shown through their attendance at School Committee meetings is the first step to strengthening education for their children. School fees from government mean that it is indeed interested in making schools work but it is the concerned parent that will make the school work.