Don’t blame Education Act – Steve Hyacinth

Hyacinth. Photo credit: GIS

Chief Education officer Steve Hyacinth has said the Education Act should not be blamed for the behavior of some students on the island.

Principals and education officers are attending a workshop here today to discuss the contents of the recently released Regulations to the Education Act in Dominica.

Hyacinth told the official opening of the workshop this morning that the Act is very strong on regarding the school as a safe haven for students.

“In the past I have heard persons suggesting that the Education Act is responsible for the growing increase in crime and anti-social behaviour among our youths. I believe that now we have implemented the Education Act, and a few years have elapsed, that this person has realised that such blame cannot be placed on the Education Act. I have reviewed the Act and I have not discovered any suggestions which perpetuate anti-social behaviour among our youths,” he said.

Hyacinth told today’s workshop that Education Act does not permit students to attend school with weapon.

In fact, he said “it may be interesting to find out where those students get those weapons”.

According to Hyacinth, the Act does not say it is permissible for students to be rude to principals and teachers and it does not encourage students to use fights as a means of solving problems.

“In fact the Act is very strong on encouraging students to remain focus,” he said.

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72 Comments

  1. spy
    September 19, 2011

    my greatest disappointment, is that the authorities fail to effectively identify the problem and act on it, and keep evaluating implemented activities until we get it right.There is no one with a whip on their backs. they are the drivers and the students are the passengers.where ever they go the students go Instead they sit every day and say its not this fault and that fault
    .
    LETS START WORKING TOWARD IMPROVING OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM AND OUR CHILDREN. PLEASE

    ASKED MR GOLDBERG TO ELABORATE ON THE MATHS A LITTLE MORE. HIS PURPOSE ON EARTH IS TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE HE IS BLESSED WITH THE ABILITY. I AM NOT AND HE NEED TO IMPART THAT BLESSING, IT IS OF NO USE UNDER THE EARTH. PLEASE SIR.
    MATHS IS THE MOST HATED SUBJECT WHY? CAUSE THE EXPLANATIONS ARE JUST NOT CLEAR ENOUGH.
    WHEN HIS DEAD WILL SAY OH1 HE WAS THE AUTHOR OF THE CXC ECT MATHS BOOK ? WHAT IS THE SUCCESS RATE RIGHT NOW? SOMTHING TO THINK ABOUT.

  2. BIG BAMBOO.
    September 19, 2011

    The Education ACt is a ggood thing. It just has to be enforced and all will be fine. Teachers read section 132 and start to make your demands.

  3. Delicious
    September 19, 2011

    Do you remember back in the days when you did common entrance to enter high school. You got two chances, then you would have another chance through the JSP program. Why did the do away with that, it catered for the children who at least were not academically inclined, but had a skill a trade they could honed and develop. Bring that back and maybe we could start seeing some changes. Stop hiring high school graduates to teach high school students. Also make it mandatory that all teachers take a management course. And to you who are in the top start listening to the ideas of those in the direct line of fire. Students have evolved therefore procedures needs to evolve to.

  4. 1979 has NO country
    September 19, 2011

    these self righteous people in authority never want to listen to the cooks in the kitchen taking the heat. If I cannot afford a private school for my children there is NO WAY IN HEAVEN OR HELL I sending them to public school…I will quit my job and home school them….I have had it with these a-&&&&7 :twisted:

    • 1979 has NO country
      September 19, 2011

      i wonder when last this hyacinth sat in a class room 8)

      • Helen
        September 19, 2011

        This man sat in a classroom and learnt his lessons well are you not noticing that. When did you sit in a classroom I guess only in August that’s why you could ask such a stupid question. You do even know what is going on in the system poor you

      • Dorreen Carbon
        September 19, 2011

        What you don’t know is that he do come and do checks at classroom..recently he was a mahaut school with other ministry people…is up to us teacher to be prepared and do our lesson plans

      • Reality Bites
        February 16, 2012

        @ Dorren…By the way I teach High School where the students from primary school come and have no clue how to read and write….even at the Mahaut school where I once upon a time went to. How do you explain that …the proliferation of students who can’t read and write at secondary schools? By the way Steve has never come to visit the school where I work. I suppose he had to visit the primary schools since the root of the problem lies there…the root of the U.S.E. problem…children not prepared for high school.

    • Dorreen Carbon
      September 19, 2011

      lol read the article…befor you go make yourself sound dumb

    • Reality Bites
      February 16, 2012

      @ Doreen Carbon….Please Doreen I have been teaching for 7 years now…am attending teachers college and of course i see the necessity of the lesson plan. I also see how a lesson plan can be thrown under a bus once you enter the classroom today as the lesson begins yet again to turn into a counselling session. the discipline and behavioural issues are undermining teaching today in this U.S.E classrooms. I have also done a survey at my school with teachers who have been teaching for 10 yrs plus and those who have completed the teachers college programme and are implementing the studies learnt, the findings to sum it up: studetns today make it much more difficult to complete a well prepared lesson plan. You ..if you do teach…should know how long it takes to plan one of those well prepared lesson plan and materials to go with that you refer to. Unless you rush the brush or regurgitate past lesson plans that do not cater to the U.S.E student. Reality check my dear madam….REALITY CHECK!

  5. New teacher
    September 18, 2011

    i started teach at the Isaiah Thomas Secondary School this year and its not a good place to work at all,the staff are not together the ministry must do some charges

    • Bella
      September 19, 2011

      Do not wah your linen in public you cannot be trusted teacher

  6. coco sec
    September 18, 2011

    Mr Hyacith You know the challenges schools face yet you sit in your office and pretend.What plans if any does your ministry have for the underperforming schools who year in go through the mundane tasks without any assistance from your officials.What are you doing to get them out of the office and on the field where they should be.

    • Micheal
      September 19, 2011

      Ask your principal…at the last principal’s meeting they told the principals the plans they have for the unperforming school..i was there i am a principal and i am ready to take that stand

  7. my rice and peas
    September 18, 2011

    These fellars are jokers, who just know how to play with words. The things they should concentrate on they prefer spend time writing policies and bla bla bla. You guys are playing with kids future. The students are leaving school because they are frustrated with the system. Gosh man..

    • Helen
      September 19, 2011

      It just shows how you operate. Have you taken time to teach your children ethics etc – that means you waiting on the teacher to raise your children for you. You should be asahme of saying children leaving school fed up with the sytem, that might be your kinds you did not take time to train at home for the furture

  8. a teacher too
    September 18, 2011

    The system as I see it now is designed to frustrate teachers. The sort of demands Education Officers and principals under the directives of Hyacinth are demanding of techers are simply ridiculous and some what of a slavery system. Atfer the first staff meeting I felt like quitting or just be rebellious! This ministry has corrupted the education system and now they want teachers to work like animals with no homes and children to go and attend to. As a teacher I will continue to work to the best of my abililty, even if I feel frustrated!

    • Shelia
      September 19, 2011

      Becaue you there for economic gains not for the love of teaching

      • 1979 has NO country
        September 19, 2011

        ohhh shut your ______ i am no teacher but I can identify with what this lady is saying…not only teachers but most employees in Dominica are dealing with this madness attitude from employers. people work for their salaries to be able to make their ends meet, to provide for their children among others, what are you saying? you comment is prejudicial, ignorant and hypocritical to the millionth degree….I am disgusted by it!!!!!!!!

      • 1979 has NO country
        September 19, 2011

        thats what some of you self righteous people do….you slave yourselves and cultivate this slavery attitude then try to blow your our horn and try to act as if you are the epitome of what makes a good teacher….i hope you perish as the slave that you are. :twisted:

      • A
        February 16, 2012

        Stop shouting off your mouth! Are you in the kitchen!

    • Eve
      September 19, 2011

      Note there arepersons above Mr. hyacinth remember dat also

    • Micheal
      September 19, 2011

      As a principal i say again….people think teaching is simple and they come in it just for the salary…All we want and the act to wants is that teachers come prepared to facilitate learning,,, in my school i ensure that my teachers lesson plans cater to all the levels of learning… it is not about delivered of content it is about having students respond in an organized and systematic manner. when teachers like yourself feel to resign or quitting its what hurting the system, because you do not understand the true meaning of your task as a teacher….

      • A
        February 16, 2012

        Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me? Does the word teacher means to forgo your own life and put the issues of the workplace and other peoples’ children before your own? I love teaching. I have been doing it for 7 years thus far..to you Mr. Michael it may seem like baby years. From what I have seen of the system and undergone I have felt like resigning and quitting like any other teacher. WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS! Should we not feel. The individual is expressing them self and you choose to put them down even further. This is the kind of non-support that we teachers have to deal with from too many sides. Why did you not consider why she felt like resigning? Have you had a heart to heart with your teachers lately and asked them how they are handling the stress of the job because I am sure you are well aware it can be very stressful. Besides being a principal is even a lonelier job!

      • A
        February 16, 2012

        BY the way the salary of teaching in quite very very unattractive….1800 can only go so far!

  9. INTERPOL
    September 18, 2011

    the problem is universal education.there is no facilty at the schools to cater for those who are not accademicaly inclined.

    • DIASPORA
      September 19, 2011

      So what is so hard in the school opening a learning center to cater to these student???? oho i seee government hadda tell u to do that to common!!

      • A
        February 16, 2012

        Perhaps the diaspora can operate a fund for their alma matters to help them open such learning centers and maintain them. Also when should the hours of these learning centers be done between the regulated 8 to 1 for teaching. Have you considered the distances that some of these students particularly in the countryside come from and the economic status of their parents. Students miss school when their parents are broke, they come school hungry and the school bus breaks down..TOO OFTEN! Please if you have a plan a strategy that can help enlighten schools to opening such learning centers do pass it on.

  10. ineedfree
    September 18, 2011

    we hope that the people in the ministry of education are seriously taking note of the voices in this blog. If not, it’s just more folly for the country.

    Do some quick adjustments before it’s too late.

    Get rid of those funny little advisors who dont take the culture of the land into consideration.

    TAKE HEED, TAKE HEED

    • DIASPORA
      September 19, 2011

      Are you therefore saying that the culture of Dominica is to stream student…have lackadaisical primary school teachers that allow a student from k1 – grade 7 unable to read!!!! what phukeries that!!!! are you saying thats our culture? No!!! its not the act wants us to shape UP!!! teacher, parent, students do ur part….we all can learn

  11. observant
    September 18, 2011

    That is what Steve is expected to say. Despite his beliefs he cannot say anything else. Mr. Hyacinth the traps which some schools are is not a safe haven. Time to visit the Newtown Primary.

  12. teachers
    September 17, 2011

    we do not want dr. blaize as p.c of education o no female teachers will not married

    • ....................
      September 18, 2011

      You need to expound on that!

    • JIM
      September 18, 2011

      Favours! favours! favorurs! There is a price assigned to it.

  13. PAIN
    September 17, 2011

    Mr. Hyacinth, please bring back the Junior Secondary Programme.(JSP) It was very fruitful.
    Have them to abolish that Act there. It is creating confusion at the schools.

  14. domnitjen
    September 17, 2011

    Mr Hyacinth needs to step out of his office and familiarize himself with what is going on at the schools.He knows there are schools who do not see their EO far less for other ministry officials.So the principals do wat they please.Go to work late, always absent or doing their own business so you know.There are a few very good principals who are frustrated by the system.Mr Hyacith open your eyes to that

    • Bella
      September 19, 2011

      Okay you know all that and never reported it. So you are to blame to condoning such behaviours. You open your eyes ans smell the coffee you also are to be blamed not the system, hiding important proof and information

    • Micheal
      September 19, 2011

      Not my school for sure!!

  15. Anonymous
    September 17, 2011

    When I entered this noble profession it was rewarding. Initially, the selection of teachers played an important role as teachers had the responsibility of being parents also.

    Now ppl with no moral values or self respect are teachers. How do you expect parents or those same students to respect those who party, chill and sewo with them and their parents?

    In my humble opinion, the act is merely a threat to teachers. It encourages rebellious acts.

    After a then government introduced the every child to high school act, I ran for the States in a new career as I saw the repercussions coming from a far.

    I ran and personally encourage teachers to run for safety of themselves and family. I know over 50 teachers who this year alone vacated to other professions in Dominica or a fresh start in other countries incl the US.

    • September 18, 2011

      hahahahaha
      nice one…
      but seriously that education Act was a mistake.
      i mean its common sense:
      before Education Act, things ARE good

      after Education Act, thing ARE worste

      durr

      • Micheal
        September 19, 2011

        Things are not worst…our children are given greater opportunities to express their niche..i have had teachers that convince that all students learn by direct instructions..that cannot be so and the education act allows us to make learning to facilitate the learning capabilities of every student and not stream..for example before the act we would have said that this child who faill common entrance is dunce cat…not we see that same child excelling at the Wesley High school cause teachers recognize the child is not dunce she is a VISUAL LEARNER. time we teach class with visual aids, field trips..make the student that not good at writing but good with his hands build models..there are other forms of testing and evaluation rather than just PEN AND PAPER AND TEACHER TALKS

    • Bell
      September 19, 2011

      Have you done a survey in the States to see where some of those who ran to US working come to States I will show you, they shame to come back home

  16. Castle Bruce PTA
    September 17, 2011

    If I had a choice and if I could send my children to private school including a private college, I would feel much better because my humble analysis tells me that the Ministry of Education is like an empty plastic bottle out there on the open sea going whichever place the currents take it, No plan!!!
    It hurts me to see all the better and gtrained teachers leaving the system and only unconcerned and ill equiped people we have to trust with the future of our children.
    Yokkkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • ?????
      September 17, 2011

      Most of these teachers are young,and care a ***.The seasoned ones are leaving,because the profession has been blown into the gutters.

      • Anonymous
        September 18, 2011

        The Education system has lost its moral values. Gone are the days when your character was taken into consideration before you became a teacher. Now all you have to do is go to teachers college and wether or not you pass teaching practice, you will graduate as a qualified teacher. This system sucks.

    • Helena
      September 19, 2011

      That is the atmosphere at your home, get up and lead your children so they could be example sending them to private school is an escape for you. Yokkkkkk!!!!!!!!

    • real
      September 19, 2011

      lol private school in dominica operate under education act to dummy ahahahahahahah

    • real
      September 19, 2011

      And is not the education act that did that…is when the society IDOLIZES OTHER PROFESSIONS other that the teaches e.g the SINGER OF TRIPLE K IS MORE IDOLIZED THAN THE TEACHER OF today

  17. ham
    September 17, 2011

    The Ministry of Education must make it mandatory that they visit all schools, and have a dialogue with senior staff members to listen to their views re: what is taking place at their schools.Many principals fool the Ministry of Education officials by making them believe that they are doing a brilliant job when this is absolutely not so. This is particularly so at the government run schools.Many of these principals are stage actors. I KNOW WHAT I AM SAYING!

  18. Anonymous
    September 17, 2011

    I hope the Ministry of Education officials are reading these comments.

  19. 100% Dominican
    September 16, 2011

    the education act is misunderstood by parents and students. They believe that it protects them in their wrongdoing but if read properly it protect the stakeholders ie the student and teachers. However from the onset of the act some students and parents feel that teachers cannot discipline them again and that is bad not for the teachers or parents but for the student. They are the ones losing out when they come to school banday for the teacher. I am talking from experience because I am a teacher who taught before the act and is still teaching with the act and i can tell you that its the students losing out. Even the Bible supports corporal punismnent for it states that if the child is beaten with the rod he/she will not die. Not all punishment is beatings but some children that’s the only way one is able to keep them in check. But the problems we are encountering in the education system is because of bad parenting. Parents bad mouthing teacher in front of children and saying what they will and will not do if teacher touch their child but they don’t know the monsters they raising will turn on them first. Train up a child in the way he should grow and when he is old he will not depart from it.

    • Pine
      September 17, 2011

      I agree with u 100%. I use to be a teacher but migrated. The Education Act is not the problem. The problem is with the parents who forget that they are the parents and the child is the child. Parents give their children too much upper hand on them. They let go too much rope for their children and majority of the time when they realize that the child is the problem it’s to late. Don’t get me wrong there are parents out there who are trying their best with their children; raising them the right way and yet still their children follow the wrong path.
      But the main issue is that parents should train their children from small, from the time the children start talking around 2, kids should be discipline. Don’t just sit by and say “oh he is just a child”. Once a child has understanding the parent should start disciplining the child.

  20. GOM
    September 16, 2011

    Mr Hyacinth why are the government secondary schools doing so badly at the CSEC exams, as compared to the private schools? ISN’T THAT A CONCERN TO YOU ALL AT THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION?

    • real
      September 19, 2011

      Cause the government teacher know doh matter how much crap they teach in the class they still in the system!!!!

  21. PTA
    September 16, 2011

    GOODWILL SECONDARY SCHOOL PARENTS,TEACHERS AND STUDENTS ARE CALLING ON THE MINISTRY TO REMOVE THE PRINCIPAL AT THE SCHOOL BECAUSE SOMETHING WILL HAPPENED AT THE SCHOOL SOON
    PLEASE HELP US

    • BRAIN DAMAGE
      September 16, 2011

      And also the Education Act……

    • Anonymous
      September 18, 2011

      I beg to differ Sir. I am a teacher at the Goodwill Secondary School and the principal is doing a wonderful job. Some persons do not like stucture and discipline and want to do their own thing and will always have a problem when things are put in place.

      • T
        September 18, 2011

        I taught with this gentleman.Contrary to the nonsense being bandied about by some lazy or unprofessional teachers, he is doing a great job as principal.

      • teachers
        September 18, 2011

        u need to stop bring story for the principal and teach the people children,to get better grade at c.x.c

    • Plyboard
      September 19, 2011

      You know you all like to judge people by your standards and this is very bad. The guy is a very good principal and is doing very well at the school. You start with the chage within you and then the change will come. Leave the man alone he is good

  22. Anonymous
    September 16, 2011

    So long allu know that Education Act is non-sense. Teachers have no rights to correct students again is pure non-sense that happening.

    I have two children in high-school and welcome any teacher using their common sense to disciple them as they see fit but the Act is a waste of time.

    We are at an advanced stage of spoiling those children…we in problems.

  23. BA YO BWA
    September 16, 2011

    Mr. Hyacinth, you would agree that the Education Act has played a negative role in students behaviour. Once students were informed that they could no longer be physically punished, kai poule kwazay. Now when I say physical punishment, I do not want anyone to confuse it with physical abuse. They are two separate and distinct actions. Those of us who were lucky to have attended school when there was respect for teachers, because we knew we were kept in check, know of the positive influence it had on our behaviour. Now there is absolutely no respect for authority!! Tell me, what steps can a teacher take to discipline a student? Time out? Dunce cap? Demerits? Detentions? Write some lines? Students feel no kind of effect with these kinds of punishment. As a matter of fact, they relish it.

    I think Dominica’s education system lost its way, when they tried to copy one thing from other countries. If you are to replicate another country’s system, you need to go all the way. This change does not suit Dominica and so we see the ill effects.

    Now I do agree that you cannot fully blame the education act. The increase in liberated parents have left a whole generation of children who are being grown rather than raised. They have little or no values instilled in them which complicates what the education system has done. I do think that when our policy makers go overseas, they are blindsided by dreams. We need to be more realistic in our decision making and in implementing ideas with long term consequences.

    • eee
      September 16, 2011

      The unruly students curse the principal and teachers nowadays like tower.They are sent home for a day or two, when they return they do it again,and the story continues. They are now asking you to give them demerits and detention.Sometimes the teacher has to spend an inordinate amount of time to get students to settle before a class can begin,and the rubbish continues.It’s a sign that we have lost the family upbringing we once cherished as a country.Gone are the days when one would not want mummy and daddy to know that he misbehaved.No wonder many good teachers are vacating the teaching profession, to the detriment of those who are willing to learn something. It will get worse before it gets better.

      • ....................
        September 17, 2011

        I am a teacher..You could not have said it better than that. It is affecting society when the rate of turnover of good trained teachers is very high.

    • Anonymous
      September 17, 2011

      Well said, You are so right

    • Anonymous
      September 18, 2011

      Amen! I totally agree. The education system stinks

      • Helena
        September 19, 2011

        Once you can say that the “Amen! I totally agree. The education system stinks” It means that you have not educated youself or your children on anything and so you are not aware of your surroundings or Dominica on a whole and have to say that to plese your ignorance, poor you.

  24. Anonymous
    September 16, 2011

    But the act makes it hard for the schools to discipline the students. Detention, suspension & expulsion. Another problem is not everyone is academic, everyone should not be admitted into high school. We need more technical programs for the youth.

    • agreement
      September 16, 2011

      i totally agree with you.There are many students now in Secondary Education who doesnt know how to formulate the letters of the Alphabet properly far less for taking in any kind of academic knowledge.
      We do need more technical programs.Its about time that Ministry of Education realise that and get themselves together and stop hoping and wishing that things will change.

  25. BRAIN DAMAGE
    September 16, 2011

    Don’t blame the Education Act but blame Steve Hyacinth.
    Before the Act, students kept their tail quiet but now is teachers turn. Afraid..afraid..afraid the Act bite them.

    • Bella
      September 19, 2011

      Why are you personalising this. The Guy is working with the policies and procedures of the system. You see you all do not know how to train or assist your children from small – you all wait on the system to do everything for you all. I see this in you because before the Act the children were worst off because we do train our children base on the Biblical rules.
      God help “Brain Damage” see the fake name you see what I mean, children will do the same.

  26. Anonymous
    September 16, 2011

    Yes, but you all find every reason to keep gangstars and bastards in school.one day they will turn on you education officials.by that time the coffee pot will be burnt. so smell it now.

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