Satire: Bahamas Public Education's Five Year Plan
15 July 2009
Joan Thompson, President, Nassau Institute
In his recent speech to the government school teachers and education bureaucracy Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said:
“I believe it is noteworthy that, like health, education has been one of the largest recipients of government funding in every budget cycle since before independence”
And
“Regrettably, our success in getting every child into a classroom has not translated into every child having achieved his full potential. When, in the first half of the 20th century, most children completing primary school could read and write, today too many students leave our secondary schools only semi-literate and semi-numerate”.
In spite of vast sums of money poured into education, increasing compulsory attendance from 14 to 16 years, the level of achievement as measured by test results, is so low as to be a National embarrassment. It could hardly be worse.
Words are cheap, and none are cheaper than those out of the mouths of politicians. Caught up in self-congratulatory language the true and unadulterated MEANING of their words is obscured by the emotive style of their delivery.
Anyone daring to challenge this nonsensical obfuscation of the truth about public education will be regarded as a heretic, and banished from polite Bahamian society. So be it.
A Prime Minister with a vision for an educated citizenry, might have made the following announcement:-
“My government regrets it has been unable to raise the level of literacy and numeracy and can no longer countenance spending vast sums of tax-payer money for a system that is a proven failure.
“As a consequence, we are privatizing the education system.
“As there are no likely investors for the existing set-up, teachers will be gradually released from the government payroll. The money heretofore provided as salaries will be reserved in a loan fund for teachers to open schools as education-for-profit centers.
“Initially some of the existing school buildings will be leased annually at favourable rates with renewal option up to Five Years. On approval of the Business Plan, rental arrangements for existing schools will be entertained.
“It is anticipated that the resulting “private” schools will become self-sustaining as market forces come into play as they are not required to compete with a state education monopoly. The competition for pupils at affordable rates to the parents will raise the level of proficiency unachievable by the state-run schools.
“A number of school buildings and teachers will be retained for the transition period from public to private education as The Five Year Plan now goes into effect.
“My government will be phased out as the dominant education supplier. The market for education will become dynamic and flourish as government influence and controls lessen.
“In the certain knowledge that every Bahamian parent wants the best education possible for his/her child, my government is confident that the entrepreneurial spirit and love of parents for their children are the motivating factors for higher standards of achievement.
“We anticipate that as individual needs are met in the specialized schools chosen and paid for by the parents, learning and the desire to learn will result. A wide variety of schools offering different subjects and training in the skills required in a world of specialization will ensue. Parents will choose and pay for schools appropriate for their children and their family goals.
“Choice, no longer limited to a single failing system will unleash a wealth of talent heretofore undiscovered.
“I know that my government’s decision to get out of the education business is ground breaking. It will seem “radical” to many; however, systemic failure as evidenced in the failing D grade average must be addressed. The standard of living for all Bahamians in the years to come requires a totally new approach today.
“It is past time to return the responsibility of learning back to the parents to make the education decisions for their offspring.
“Teachers wishing to continue their profession as teachers should apply for a business license to open their own school. The Minister of Education Mr. Carl Bethel and Ms Elma Garraway and their staff will direct all their efforts toward helping educators establish centers for learning in what will become a private school network.
The above as conceptualized, but not detailed, has the potential for meaningful change. Only a radical rethinking for a totally new approach will solve the learning crisis in government schools.
Government efforts to “fix” the existing structure will require even more money with little change in outcomes. To continue the same dysfunctional system commits the Bahamas to third rate status far into the future.
Comments
Joan Thompson - 15 July 2009 18:09- Comment on “Privatize education system, Govt urged”
- Unfortunately The Tribune omitted the paragraph describing a core principle for a private system of education. Although my article is intended as satire, it is customary to include some "grain of truth". The omitted paragraph is what I believe to be true. I wrote:
"In the certain knowledge that every Bahamian parent wants the best education possible for his/her child, my government is confident that the entrepreneurial spirit and love of parents for their children are the motivating factors for higher standards of achievement".
The objective of the article is to invite a different way of thinking about education by incorporating the principles that work for successful people and businesses.
Obviously the satire intended was missed, and I might be criticized for lack of writing skill but not for my intention to encourage a different way of thinking about the education problem.
I agree with Rick, that there is no irony in the Institute managing the printing and distribution of the paper. Because it identifies the seriousness of the education problem - the NI contribution was to get it out to the public. I am not aware that you Ralph, had offers from the government or others, therefore presume the Institute is the only one to step up to the mark to inform the wider public.
Ralph you and I discussed your paper on numerous occasions, and you surely remember my "neutrality" in so far as solutions are concerned.
In the matter of Ten Year Plans - Perhaps there are some successful ones.
We are well informed of the "success" of Communist Russia's Five Year Plans; They also epitomize the core principle of socialist states; all good flows from government as the central manager of the country.
Will The Ten Year Education Plan education for Bahamian children be the exception?
Best wishes to all
Rick Lowe - 15 July 2009 17:37- Comment on “Privatize education system, Govt urged”
- Thanks Ralph:
I support Mrs. Thompson's letter suggesting what the PM might have considered saying. Of course it is theoretical, but at least it challenges the status quo.
Meaningful reform in a system where we cannot even operate stop lights is doubtful at best. Frankly the government does owe the nation an apology.
I wish them luck of course as our future depends on an educated citizenry, but this same PM was in charge of education for 10 years and your essay records the results. Of course the Opposition made no effort at all.
You've chosen some strong language to go after the Nassau Institute, but who is failing the children? Maybe your criticism of Joan and the institute is misdirected?
If those of us that are interested in the future would stop massaging the people that have held the fate of the nations educational system in their grasp for many years, maybe, just maybe, we would have had some improvement a long time ago.
It seems you were privileged to receive a copy of the 10 year plan? As usual, these things are not available to the citizens that must pay for it.
Frankly, the educational system needs more than "wish" lists and "hopes".
And you even suggest that the "plan" does not address "the severity of the academic failure and illiteracy problems in the public schools."
Finally, what exempts the government from holding themselves to the standards they pass laws that are to hold the rest of us accountable?
I'll await the second draft as "directed" by the PM.
Good luck with your effort as well however.
I should point out there is no irony in us circulating your essay. That merely shows our concern about the educational system as the essay clearly shows the systems failings.
Maybe I'm cynical at this stage, but I'm tired of having to "wait and see".
Ralph J. Massey - 15 July 2009 17:36- Comment on “Privatize education system, Govt urged”
- Comment on “Privatize education system, Govt urged”: an Article in The Tribune, July 14, 2009, page 3
The above cited article contained several important ideas.
Firstly, the article reported the views of the President of the Nassau Institute, Mrs. Joan Thompson; and she criticized the Prime Minister for his comment on the 10-year plan of the Department of Education. That criticism seems intemperate and ill-informed based on what he said and what occurred at the Education Summit.
Specifically, Prime Minister stated that “Our success in getting every child into a classroom has not translated into every child having achieved his full potential...today too many students leave our secondary schools only semi-literate and semi-numerate.” This a clear and valid statement.
Yes, the Department of Education (DOE) did present a 65-page “10 Year Education Plan” at the summit that contained 22 goals, each containing numerous short and long term objectives. These objectives are extended “wish” lists and were aptly described in the document itself as “hopes.” And...the literacy problem so clearly identified in the Prime Minister’s comment was the number three goal behind “Developing a More Relevant Curriculum” and “Developing National Pride, Civic Responsibility and a Strong Work Ethic in Students.”
The Goal 3 on “Literacy and Numeracy” had 16 objectives that included some curriculum changes, more teacher training and on-the-job teacher mentoring. To many these changes do not address the severity of the academic failure and illiteracy problems in the Public Schools.
And...the surprise of all surprises is that the plan was clearly marked DRAFT. It would appear that the Department of Education was diplomatically sent back to the drawing boards to develop an acceptable plan.
Secondly, the President of the Nassau Institute, lays out a plan of privatization that seems naive and theoretical. If one looks at the world and asks “Are the best national systems Publicly or Privately Owned?”, one would have to admit that they are mostly Government-owned and/or directed and financed.
One international school testing organization shows that the world’s top-five systems are Singapore, South Korea Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan. All of these governments have created schools to produce a militarily strong nation or to increase the nation’s human skills and capabilities. All of these countries have cultures that support hard work and discipline. Some have made mistakes; but all have been willing to modify their systems.
It is ironic that the Nassau Institute has published and is widely distributing the “The Learning Crisis” essay. That document accepts the importance of Government in education and proposes specific programs designed to change the culture of the classroom by proposing innovative schools that have a proven track record in educating under privileged children.
One can be a skeptic and say that nothing changes in the Bahamas, especially the DOE. But...the Prime Minister’s comment suggests that the country will get another draft of a 10-year plan; and that is a good sign. We will just have to wait and see.
Ralph J Massey
Economist & Consultant
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