Teachers are not "miracle workers"

As an upcoming educator, I am very concern with Jamaica's current education system. For the longest while, our education system has being labeled as a 'failure' and to date, I am oblivious as to what has being done to eradicate that label. On the one hand, the onus is on teachers to ensure that their students' learn, while on the other hand, teachers are expected to teach students to more than merely 'pass exams.' There is no doubt that Jamaica lacks resources, and if that be the case, why then is there a burden on teachers to work 'miracles' in order to get students to learn? I am not insinuating that teachers do not have a role to play, but I am saying that burden cannot be solely on teachers. 

If the education system in Jamaica is a failure, are we to conclude that it is because of the teachers? I believe that education is very important but if the current system is a failure then Jamaica is doomed. An article was written by Dr. Grace Virtue, (February 18, 2014) in the Jamaica Observer, where she states "Development studies have long identified education as the key to eradicating poverty and alleviating the dysfunctions with which we struggle." So then if our education system is a failure, and studies have shown the impact of education on societies then we have failed as a country.

Wrong focus

Regardless of whatever factors influencing students' learning, the high expectation of teachers will still exist, and as such, teachers will continuously be the victims of chastisement of students’ failure. I would love to see an improved education system, however many persons are quick to label Jamaica's education system as 'failure' but they are unable to propose any solution. They are not focusing on the where the real problem lies; instead, they are blaming teachers for students failure. We measure the education system as failure based on the premise that students are not learning. If we maintain that learning is a change in behavior and students are not transformed, then no learning had taken place and if no learning as taken place, then students are bound to fail. 

More and more burden is being placed on teachers so much so that there is an argument that teachers should be paid based on performance. There are no resources available to schools, and if that is so, no resources are available to teachers. If it is that teachers are being blamed for students failing, then that implies that our education system will continue to be a failure because the focus is on the wrong thing, being channeled in the wrong direction. Please do not get me wrong, I am not saying that there aren't teachers out there who are lazy, irresponsible and careless, but teachers alone cannot transform Jamaica's education system.

Where the focus should be

From time to time, many statistics have revealed that many schools are failing schools. I figured more or less, that schools are labeled as failing because of students' performance in the CSEC exams. If schools are failing based on CSEC exams and teachers are being ask to teach students to more than merely pass exam, and they have to finish the syllabus within a certain time, wouldn't it be pressure on our teachers? I personally believe that the focus should be placed at the early childhood level as well as the primary level. 

In my opinion, both levels are directly proportional, that is, if the literacy level increases at the early childhood level, it would also increase at the primary level. When teachers at the secondary level receive students in high schools who cannot read or write, are teachers expected to work 'miracles' so that those students is able to be competent enough to sit an exam without proper resources? As I would continuously say I am not saying that we do not have teachers who incompetent for the profession but even if every teacher has a PH.D, teachers alone cannot transform the education system. 

In essence, I am saying that we as a country should focus on where the focus should be, our education system is a failure, but what is being done to resolve it? Instead of blaming teachers for students’ failure, schools' failure, which would imply blaming them for the failure of Jamaica’s education system, I suggest that we channel the attention to where the real problem lies and stop blaming teachers.

Kenroy Davis is an educator and a commentator on social issues. Email feedback to kenroy.davis20@gmail.com