PEP exam mired in chaos
Published:Monday | May 28, 2018 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I am writing in response to a column titled 'Ill prepared for PEP' by Owen Speid, principal of Rousseau Primary School. Mr Speid indeed hit the nail directly on the head with this one, as it is clear that there will not be any smooth transition from the Grade Six Achievement Test to the Primary Exit Profile. The ministry seems to have dropped the baton on this one and is yet to pick it up from the infield.
The signs were clear from last year, as it was noted that the critical messengers were not fully brought up to speed with all the elements of the new standard curriculum, nor have the necessary resources been provided by the ministry. It becomes more obvious that there is a total disconnect between the dinosaurs at Heroes Circle and what are the realities within the Jamaican education system.
Only recently, a ministry representative was chased away by parents at a forum for PEP at Stella Maris. The presenter's ill-preparedness further adds insult to injury in the lack of basic information that was sought by parents on the PEP.
They need to wake up and smell the coffee before it gets cold. Dinosaurs have no place in this fast-paced, technological environment, hence the resources should complement the necessary training to ensure that this transition is smooth.
On the other hand, Mr Speid should also reveal the other side of the coin, where some of his colleagues did not turn up for the planned ministry training sessions last summer.
ROGER PINADO
Kingston