Our Education Policy – Creating The Environment To Enable Growth (Part 1)

Anthony-LeBlancIn Search of Excellence 

Our education policy has to be in sync with our economic and social strategy for the development of this country.  It must be geared towards creating a high quality workforce and enabling long-term meaningful employment in order that the social structure is robust.   It must encourage the establishment of a critical mass of thinkers, innovators and good critiques who can chart an evolving strategy that will get us out of our rut to a better level.

The present policies and strategy have failed us. We need to re-think and give birth to a human resource strategy that coincides with a development strategy.  To achieve this task however, we need to have a critical mass of good moral thinkers at a policy-making level.

We have heard some educational goals of our present and past governments such as universal secondary, and recently even tertiary education, not to mention the modified Beckle’s “one college graduate per household”.   But where does this lead us?  Do these in themselves cause economic growth and social advancement?  Does an education policy isolated from a growth and development strategy create a path to economic growth all on its own?

Over the last two decades there appears to be an increase in illiteracy at our primary and secondary schools.  The fact that students end up in academically driven secondary schools with severe reading or maths deficiencies tells a lot about our mainstream education system!  Even at our Dominica State College (DSC) there are young people who do not understand subject-verb agreement, nor can they master primary school mathematics!

But one has to give credit to the fact that there are different methods or avenues of learning.  It does not mean that these young people are dumb or cannot learn.  What it points to is a deficiency in the education system which short-changes our young people.  The result is that many are falling through the cracks because the education system has not adjusted to ensure that everyone is captured.  Many have been left behind in a system that glorifies average performance, slothful mediocrity and pours contempt on excellence!

Recognising and Nurturing Excellence.

Every year we trumpet those who come first at the GSAT.   We hail those secondary school graduates who excel at the CXC CSEC exams. Unfortunately, these accolades are not transformed into systematic stimulation of these young people to be assets towards the development of this country.   The #1 GSAT performer receives the same 2nd hand government scholarship text books that the # 80th student gets.   At the same time a student who came at say between # 525 and 800, the child of a political fan, who would not necessarily be recommended by a professional welfare officer for assistance, gets a complete set of NEW books, uniform and school fees paid!

At the state college, the higher performing students generally take on 3 majors.   These are those who easily get 7 or more grade 1’s at the CXC CSEC exams.   The Government “scholarship” pays only $ 1000.00 per semester towards their tuition.  For a 3-major programme, the cost is about $1,400-1,500.00 per semester, meaning that our best students receive a mere bursary of 2/3 the college tuition and nothing towards any other inevitable costs!  But that is not all, no 3-major student can finish the college Associate Degree (AD) programme in 2 years without enrolling in the summer semesters to satisfy the huge serving of electives – another $700.00 per summer semester!

Well, these are high performing students, and they are not prepared to risk not getting accepted in a renowned university – which includes The University of the West Indies (The UWI) science, engineering and medical faculties – with only a DSC associate degree.     Hence they follow the A’ Level programme with general paper  … at an additional cost of $80/subject/month for four courses.    Hence the total tuition-only cost for the two year programme at the DSC for a high performing science student who excels at CXC CSEC exams and carries the A’ Level supplement is approximately EC$ 6600 + 5760 = EC$ 12,360.00.  Of this, the government gives EC$4,000.00 even to the top students in the name of scholarship!

In marked contrast, some students who barely pass 5 CXC CSEC exams are gifted with an all expense paid stay at the State College for the AD programme, sponsored by the government of Dominica with the blessing and anointing of their government parliamentary representative!  This pours contempt on striving for excellence.

The situation gets worse at the post-DSC level.   Performance has little to do with who gets government scholarships or assistance to pursue university level education.   The majority of persons who hold government sponsorship at that level are selected along party lines.   For example, the second best student of the DSC 2012 graduating class, with three (3) A-Star (A*) grades at GCE A’ Level (in physics, biology and chemistry) and a grade point average greater than 3.75 in DSC AD programme, is still struggling to get funding for university education.

If we are to progress to a better level of social and economic growth, we have to establish policies which enable us to harness the resource of bright competent minds, challenging them to excel at any prestigious university in order to take up our many challenges and help the country excel.

How much does this country owe The University of the West Indies for economic fees it undertook to pay for its citizens as a non-campus tertiary?   The plight of the Hugh Wooding graduates is just a dim image of the real irresponsible behaviour of a government that claims to meet its financial obligation.  That is, at least not towards those who want a quality university education within the region!

Taking the country forward requires us to harness and nurture our young bright minds who will be thinkers assisting in positioning Dominica on a sustained growth path.   We need to instil in our young that sense of being appreciated as students in order that they will have a desire to return home to develop this country as a means of paying the debt of gratitude resonating from an encouragement to excellence.  We will most certainly not get us where we need to go with the present policy and posture towards excellence in learning.

There needs to be a policy decision to distinguish between incentives to high performing students and benefits provided to the less fortunate through a social welfare programme, in such a way that it will stimulate achievement of excellence for the benefit of the country.

Bringing Science and Technology to The Right Level for Development.

At present, there is a gross under-value of science and technology in much the same way that there is an absence of any striving at quality education and achieving, or highlighting excellence.   Our Dominica State College (DSC) has been grossly underfunded in science and technology over at least the last 10 years.   It is curious that the laboratory requirements were not catered for adequately in the new structure.  The architectural and technical detailing do not meet the laboratory requirement and supplies are not in place.

In fact, college officials reveal that for at least 6 years now the college requires about EC$ 2 Million to get its science laboratories to a state where students can perform well.  In recent times, students generally do terrible in laboratory and practical external exams.    At last year’s Cambridge AS Level exams, one student who got B grades in Chemistry and Physics failed the laboratory papers with D and E.

Further, the animosity towards CAPE, Cambridge A’ Level and UWI science and technology programmes have much to do with the fact that the DSC cannot be accredited as a learning institution in science and technology because of the poor laboratory facilities and lack of supplies.

The facilities for the technical studies are not any better.   While there may be equipment, power supplies, materials and workshop supplies can pose serious challenges.   The DSC, being founded on the Community College whose precursor included the Clifton Dupigny Technical College, ought to be a centre of excellence in technical studies, providing training to ensure Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) certification at Level 3.

Unfortunately, the thrust towards technical education has been grossly inadequate to sustain the level of skill on island. The TVET council has been an impotent entity for many years.   The National Training Agency, a necessary offspring of the council, has been strangled in the womb of the TVET Council both by a lack of government funding and tardiness in passing necessary regulations.

In an attempt to stem the decline in the available skills, the Builders and Contractors Association of Dominica (BCAD) has pushed CVQ assessment and certification of construction workers.   Yet even at this juncture, government has threatened to de-rail the Dominica Coalition of Service Industries (DCSI) who administers the programme before the country can fully reap the benefits of the CDB programme.

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30 Comments

  1. Hush
    November 25, 2014

    Sad that everything has to be politics in D.A. Look at the article for what it is – constructive criticism. And by the way I happen to know the man does donate. They just don’t trumpet it all over as some people do. In fact they request that their donations not be publicized. Let’s not judge when we don’t know better.

  2. Hush
    November 25, 2014

    It’s sad that we associate everything with politics in D.A. By the way I can attest to the fact that Mr Le Blanc and his company do give donations but never ever sing their own praises. In fact they request that it not be publicized. I wish more companies were like that. Every cent they donate has to be trumpeted!

  3. Nicki Philbert
    November 25, 2014

    Mr. Leblanc,

    I am very thankful for such a piece. Usually I do not comment after reading, but felt like I should, as many of the points you raised have been stabbing my mind over the last years through my short career as a Primary School Teacher. I also thank you for being one of the brave few to whom youth can seek example as our leaders have obviously failed us in that light.

    I want to add though, that there is a need for Art Programmes from Primary School all the way up to DSC. In a communication driven world, there should be programmes which EFFECTIVELY teach Media and Social Marketing Skills, as well as Graphic Design, Product Development, Creative Writing, Journalism,Photography, Videography, Fashion, Mass Communication, Typography, Television, Film, Website Development, Sonic Art, Music Production, Dance, Publishing, Event Management and so much more.

    Most primary schools do not have Art Teachers and have inefficient assessments for the subject. They have someone who is given the task of teaching the subject, who is not an artist and is untrained in art. They, therefore CANNOT build the basic skills necessary to developing a young artist. Schools believe that VPA (Visual and Performing Arts) is 30 mins of the week, where they get to relax and children draw. But there is so much more to Art than that. It is a process of enlightenment, reflection and discovery, as well as mental challenge and purge from reality.

    When I attended school in the Dominica System, I always felt like an outcast as I was forced to do subjects that did not interest me. I have yet to come across an ‘Art’ teacher who i can say is responsible for molding my talents and developing my skills. Right now I am learning on my own from my environment and little available opportunities as I always have.

    Schools do not reward students who are artistic or visually minded. All the praise goes to the 10 CXC 1’s students whose focus is on science. Artistic children feel like the bottom of the barrel and are never given the opportunity to shine because they are seen as “weird” as the teachers and society do not understand how their brains function and are too proud or embarrassed to admit that the child’s thought is higher than theirs. (I have encountered children whose thought process surpasses mine and have never felt ashamed, instead, encouraged questioning, challenge and self discovery which resulted in MY mental growth too) I’ve been there and know what I am talking about. many times I thought of dropping out of school, though I was capable of handling the other subjects which I disliked reasonably. I have encountered students who are now going through the same thing that I went through. They are trapped in their head space with creative projects that the outsiders just “don’t comprehend” Imagine a young Mark Zukerberg (Creator of FaceBook) attending a Dominican Primary School, telling his teacher that one day, he would create and design a virtual space where the whole world would login daily just to share pictures and happenings, something like a journal but on-line and public. “Boy , go and do your long division” they would say.

    It is obvious that there is no Art society in Dominica. Arawak House of Culture is falling to pieces. There is hardly a fund to assist entrepreneurial artists. It is very difficult to get financial support for projects locally. I have to go all the way across the globe for support. Artists do not see a career path here. So they fly.

    There are no Art showcases, where students can go and challenge their abstract and analytical mind. And I can go on for days. Just had to put my 2c in. :)

    Please continue to share your findings with the few of us who are interested in such, and hopefully we can begin something new in this country. “Discussing things that ACTUALLY matter.”

    Nicki

  4. k.
    November 24, 2014

    Stop target the man family
    You don’t know what could be happening

  5. November 24, 2014

    Great article, but just to long.

  6. Bee
    November 24, 2014

    A very good article critiquing the education system in Dominica.

    I wonder if Tony had published this article prior to the River Promenade issue or after the silly season if the negative criticism I read here would have been so intense.

    Before an individual give a critical view of a situation geared at improvements all u jumping down the person throat claiming they complaining. Sometimes some individuals are way better off not posting any comments. Some of the people commenting here don’t have what it takes to come out behind the veil of anonymity and share anything of substance. Some of them don’t have anything of substance to share in the first place but they always busy to wave their ignorance on billboard!

  7. Just Observing
    November 24, 2014

    Tony you talk of excellence and reward for excellence yet when your child was to receive great awards for his academic performance you kept him form attending the Youth parade in 2013. You kept him away from the graduation ceremony again for politics. Tony put your money where your is. Allow your children to receive accolades from his peers. He has worked hard and because of your hatred for Pm Skerrit a villager like you, you prevented your child to have his day in the sun.

  8. November 24, 2014

    You identifying everything that is wrong, what should be done and what should not be done. You are living a community where there are needy children, how many of them do you offer to assist be it with school assignments, homework etc.? since you and yours are so well-educated why not set up a little program for the young ones in the village who are struggling with the school work?

  9. joe
    November 24, 2014

    Man Leblanc you complain too much, what are you doing to assist our beloved country? You people act as if good sense and knowledge only reside in you all because you maybe have a Masters…… Reality check quite a lot of us have Masters too and yes can read and understand the CRAP you all write!!!!!

    No college in the world is perfect…….. So we have a few glitches at our main College, we are aware of it and in time we will fix it. Rome was not built in a day but today it is a wonder of Paradise, so whilst you stay on the side and look and of course criticize (publicly or privately) some of us are Patriotic enough to WORK ON BUILDING DOMINICA!!!!!!!

  10. Rabbit
    November 24, 2014

    The mechanics of good reasoning. Very well said!!!!

  11. Sprinter
    November 23, 2014

    Well said Tony! when I listen to the education officials at the ministry speak at workshops and the politicians from their perches, I just chuckle. I am in the kitchen and I feel the heat. As a secondary school teacher, I can attest to the fact that there are too many students who enter high school having “passed” the entrance exam, yet they are ill equipped for high school. Many of the schools are also ill-equipped to run programs that “they say” they offer. Imagine new schools being constructed with no playing fields. I still do not understand how “education officials’ could allow the playing field of the Dominica Grammar School to be taken away from it. I remember my days at the DGS and what went on that field during physical education classes, and after school in preparation for inter-school and intra -school sports was an integral part what man life at DGS what it was. Something has to be wrong with what is construed as “education” within the ministry of education. The education of a child has to be holistic and so when planning every facet of education has to be taken into consideration. I supported the education of all, but will not support mediocrity in the name of education of all. The powers that be must do more to ensure all programs are of the highest standards, that teachers are respected and adequately compensated so that they will be motivated to deliver to the highest standard. A demotivated teacher cannot offer much to students. Your comment re; the 2012 second best A level students is one which must be given attention. There is so much talk about students getting scholarships, yet I know that this individual has done all that he was asked to and yet he has been given nothing. He has written letters, met with individuals, and the list goes on, yet nothing! I have always felt that he has been treated unfairly-like a beggar! It appears that connection rather than hard work is the requirement for financial assistance for further study. I really do hope that he will get some help soon so that he can realize his dream.

  12. Clayton Shilingford
    November 23, 2014

    I was shocked to read these comments on the state of education in Dominica especially in the areas of science and technology.. I heard Dr Donald Peters himself publicly bemoan the performance in Mathematics and Science at the DSC..A country’s development is tied to the quality of its human resource,,and more particularly in modern times to comprehension and application of science and technology..in all areas of social and economic development

  13. Michael Norris
    November 23, 2014

    A lot of food for thought, Tony. You raise some important policy questions.

  14. ....
    November 23, 2014

    Great read. As a college student I say this all the time: Not everybody who attends DSC should be attending there. :(

  15. Truth and Justice
    November 23, 2014

    Well written piece identifying the weakness of a system hastily implemented.

  16. MY VOTE
    November 22, 2014

    Mr. LeBlanc you have written an excellent overview of what obtains in our education sector.
    We must address these deficiencies.
    I am not surprise that the newly constructed DSC does not adequately cater to the laboratory requirements.
    Were the science lecturers consulted before the chinese designed and constructed the building? If they were , did the chinese take on board their input? Who provided supervision of the construction to ensure that they built according to what was needed and to the standards required. Was Dominica’s Planning division providing oversight?
    I am highlighting this aspect of your discourse because the same inadequacies will plague the construction of the hospital. We will have a new building but the outlay will not improve the functioning of the hospital.
    SOMEBODY, ANYBODY LISTEN AND TAKE ON BOARD THE INPUT OF THE EDUCATORS AND HEALTH WORKERS IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  17. madfox ki la wapwap
    November 22, 2014

    Instead of complaining why don’t you be a good cooperate citizen and donate to the state college lab. You could even provide scholarships to struggling students. How many of us give back to the schools that were instrumental in making us what we are. The government can’t do everything. Rather than,talking about it be proactive. Am waiting to hear of your company large donations to the college.

  18. Anonymous
    November 22, 2014

    Thanks for this well researched article. Sometimes people jut think we are all running our mouths about this dismal state of education here. It’s not just the politicians, as you see, the very citizens seem against progress because it requires effort. Fact: MANY primary school students CANNOT read and write at a satisfactory level. This is obviously close to home for many parents, but pretending it’s not true doesn’t make it so. Our system is grossly inadequate for the year 1970 – we are in 2014! This is NOT about politics…

  19. Peeping Tom
    November 22, 2014

    A garbled potpourri of speculation, facts, and illogical conclusions. Keep it up Leblanc!

  20. Figtree
    November 22, 2014

    Excellent article, Well-done Tony. Dominica would be a much better place if such critical analyses were made more often and more importantly, taken on board in the spirit of national and collective advancement in which they are presented.

  21. Oh Yes
    November 22, 2014

    As a citizen and parent I want to commend you on bringing out this information to the public. More knowledge allows for better decision-making.

  22. tech col engineer
    November 22, 2014

    great piece.. turth

  23. Keturah
    November 22, 2014

    Great article. i really liked the discussion and breakdown of the cost of going to DSC. In 2003 I got 6 ones and 2 twos which was exceptional at that time and did not get any help from government, but it was doable for me because i never had to pay more than $300 for a semester if i recall well. Come 2011, my brother got 10 ones, and his tuition was over $1000 per semester. By 2012/2013, they started telling him about he have to pay the difference. then, he had to go A-level classes, an additional cost, but needed it to get his A level A’s in his three majors so that he could get a scholarship to university. Come 2014, he gets a full scholarshp from UWI and only needs economic cost paid by govt, but even that i have to go and beg for. Dominica is a big joke. Better they had just add some 6th forms to select schools in Dominica, and let those children do cxc CAPE which is half as hard as GCE A levels and give us a better chance to procure our own scholarship opportunities instead of begging for govt assistance and then for them to be asking us who is our mother and father first .
    I used to tell my 5th form students, do the best and that will pay their way to a degree but now no.
    I not even going to start to talk about their early childhood issues where once u born after december like my son, you have to stay in preschool no matter your ability.
    everything is upside down.
    The government pays a teacher more money if she has A levels than if she has their very glorified associate degree .
    The ISLAND SCHOLAR is still chosen based on A level performance, instead of adjusted to reflect the best DSC associate degree GPA.
    i can go on. We have a problem.
    Like i said great article sir.
    (N.B. I am not for any political party. I am for my students and my future students)

  24. madfox ki la wapwap
    November 22, 2014

    Mr. LeBlanc you seem to know everything that’s wrong in our society why don’t you run for government.

  25. Hugo Grotius
    November 22, 2014

    Leblanc you jealous of skerrit just because u remember him riding bicycle in vielle case.

    • Not a herd follower
      November 23, 2014

      Are you real?

  26. Anonymous
    November 22, 2014

    Our people must learn to stand for what is right and just. My friend, this island is laden with this many of this devious behavior by the politicians. Now is an ideal time to make them suffer the consequences of their calculated actions (Acteus reus and mens rea). Many of us who are genuinely concerned about the types of political crimes that are perpetrated daily cannot stay idle by and do nothing. Least we are as equally guilty.

  27. Judge
    November 22, 2014

    Excellent article I hope the powers at be take the message from it and don’t crucify the messenger. I am one that don’t believe that every one should go to high school, because I have been to PTA and the teachers are consistently saying that some of the students are distraction to the ones that’s interested. This is just because they are not ready.
    Every one was not born to be a lawyer, a doctor or something administrative. We need to reinstate fully the Technical vocations in the college and offer it to working persons at nights. We are almost extinct of Joiners, thanks to DOWASCO we have pipe fitters saying they are Plumbers. These programs made great improvements and gave them great opportunities in the workforce of the Dominica and Internationally.
    One of our biggest Telecommunication, Company, comprised of a few of those guys man and motivated by the Technical Vocation in the College.
    A country needs all to survive and it will be ashamed when we will have to import labor to our beloved Dominica. Excellent Article Mr. Leblanc, you have my full support, its time we step out of that mediocrity syndrome.

  28. uniquegem
    November 22, 2014

    Well said.

  29. parent supporter
    November 22, 2014

    The lack of equipment for science and technology at the state college in 2014 is a sad state of affairs. The lack of local competent professionals in these fields would really retard economic growth.
    Maybe the intended solution maybe bringing in of foreign professionals.

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