Some parents warming up to SFPP
Published:Saturday | November 13, 2021 | 12:09 AMAsha Wilks/Gleaner Writer
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information’s (MOEYI) newly implemented Sixth Form Pathways Programme (SFPP) is gaining traction among the parent population as they recognise numerous benefits of their children staying in school for an additional two years.
Portia-Gaye Lawrence, parent of a grade eight student at Holy Childhood High School, said this will hopefully help in lowering the unemployment rate among young people coming out of school. Viewing the programme as an opportunity for further development and training for the world of work, Lawrence said she is prepared to send her daughter to sixth form, despite how burdensome it may be on her pockets.
“For me as a mother, I’m okay with that because for most of the students, them really idle,” said Lawrence of the implementation of the programme.
Though her daughter has expressed disappointment of the MOEYI’s decision, as she would much rather work, Lawrence said, “It’s kinda better for them, I don’t have a problem with it.”
She added that it is better to be able to work for yourself or someone else after completing studies than to be at home unemployed.
Lawrence said that she is very willing to send her child though she has not been sufficiently educated on how the SFPP will work. Since her child is not on the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education, she explained that it will become stressing on her as a parent of three.
“But at the end of the day, we want better for them. Weh we nuh get, we haffi mek them get, at the end of the day... so you have to make every sacrifice,” Lawrence added.
“A good move”
Assana Brown, mother of a grade nine student at Dinthill Technical High School, said that the programme is “a good move” by the ministry. With it already being mandatory to enrol children into school from as early as two years old, she sees no issue with extending the secondary schooling system to seven years.
“If it’s going to help him, why not?” she asked, noting that she is very willing to send her child to sixth form when that time comes. “Education is important because without education how ya go survive?”
Some students, on the other hand, remain concerned about the seven-year education system because they wish to enter the workforce as soon as they have completed their Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate exams.
Grade 10 student Stashanie Campbell and her peers from Charlemont High School shared their opinions on the SFPP with The Gleaner on Wednesday.
Campbell said she wished to only attend one year out of the two-year programme, acquiring unit one of her Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination subjects, and planned on later transitioning to the University of Technology, Jamaica to pursue a career in paediatrics.
“To do two year? That woulda slow me up inna a weh me wah fi do,” she added.
Meanwhile, Akaylia Miller is unsure of what she wants to do with her life after high school, but she hopes that the extra two years in school will help her make up her mind and settle on a career path, as she also plans to attend university.
In contrast to her peers, Jada Frankson believes that while she desires to go to university, she does not believe she needs to attend sixth form to do so.
Grade 11 student at McGrath High School, Shamara Munroe, said the programme just “doesn’t make sense”.
Not wanting to pursue tertiary-level education, Munroe said she would much rather leave with her certificate as she does not wish to stay in school past the initial five years.
Instead, she plans to work after leaving grade 11.
Of the initial MOEYI directive for graduations to be banned for her year group, Munroe said, “It kinda sucks because from grade seven you know you looking forward to graduate, and then now you can’t do it and you just have to get a piece of paper and move on ... . It’s sad.”
The ministry, however, reversed the decision.
The seven years of secondary school is a mandate that is designed to allow all students to matriculate up to grade 13, exiting the formal education system at age 18, as opposed to the initial age of 16 years with an associate degree or its equivalent.
Students entering grade 12 will be able to pursue one of three pathways during the course of the additional two years, namely, Pathway one, known as ‘Traditional’, Pathway two, titled ‘Technical’ and Pathway three, called ‘General’.