Jamaica Observer - Students without timetables, registration allowed for GSATAll of the above aside...Every year around this time, this whole issue of the GSAT exam being too hard for 10 and 11 year old children sparks debate. Personally, I have seen the syllabus, and I do believe it's a lot to cover, HOWEVER, I think the level of difficulty is fair if our children are to compete globally.
The real issue is neither with the level of difficulty, nor the time to prepare for the exam, but:
1. The way in which the students are taught.Many educators are guilty of teaching our children to swot...going through past paper after past paper will help them to remember certain things, yes, but if they miss out on the fundamental principles then we will have a problem when they go into the exam and nervousness takes over.
2. The conditions under which students are taught. I am going to beat the dead horse... WHEN will we get to the level of 25 students to 1 teacher, or no chalkboards in the classroom separating class 1 from class 2?
3. The level/type of teachers in the system. I have the utmost respect for the graying teachers in the system, but the way in which children learn in 2011 is different from the way they did 30 years ago. New methods must be adopted. Delivery in the classroom must evolve.
It's no wonder by the time they leave high school, a number of post-high school institutions end up profiting from
CSEC resit classes etc. Am I delusional? Or do we really need a revolution in the education system?
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