Alred C. Frett. Photo: VINO/File

Meanwhile, many Students would rather be anywhere else but School and Teachers lament of Systems fraught with difficulties, especially the Hormones in young Adults feeding both adventure and rebellion, suspicion and competition… Nonetheless, as experienced Adults who have been there and seen there, we must provide them with Lessons of Experience even if our efforts will be rejected.

Recently, Persons approached me with concerns of Government making major decisions likely to change Traditional Policies including the lowering of the Education Level and Required Grades of our Children… While this may be due to their over anxiety in trying to convince us of their worth and show that we did not make a mistake in electing them, it could also produce the opposite effect.

The Question of Stagnation, Regression or Progression:

I claim no mandate as advisor to Government whereas you have the inherent responsibility of advising and requesting appropriate actions from your Representatives… As a start, one should be careful to avoid the hasty condemnation of the 6^th Form Scenario since damage has already been done and a better approach may be to evaluate how best both Systems can coexist.

Nonetheless you have asked and we may have to acknowledge that even well-meaning Leaders often succumb to bad advice that force their People into confusion… Subsequently, my response is not for our Politicians but an attempt to enlighten Parents and Children as a means of assisting their efforts in making better decisions as regards the future of this and generations still to come.

Bear in mind, we are not strangers to change… We changed from Standard 7 to Post Primary to Secondary School to High School where UK’s GCE was our Qualifying Standard… Our later demands give us Caribbean CXC which we are now rejecting to be replaced with American Systems whether or not this is the best solution for our Youth in Today’s Challenging Systems.

We should also bear in mind that the objective of our High School has changed from preparing Students for the Work Force to preparing them for College and University… Subsequently, we must start by seeing how the two main USA Education References – that is GED or General Educational Development Examination and the SAT or Scholastic Aptitude Test - will affect our new ambitions.

Adapting American without preparing for America:

Firstly, GED which is generally accepted as being equivalent to a High School Diploma, is made up of four Subject Tests, each scored on a scale of 100-200 points… In order to pass this Standard, Students must earn at least 145 points on each of these tests, which means at least 580 points out of a possible 800, which means, that Passing Grade for GED is not 50% or 60%but over 70%.

Secondly, the standardised Exam referred to as SAT, is taken by high school students, in order to gain admission into Colleges and Universities… This Exam may be the one more relevant to our High School Students and comes in 2 Sections – Section 1 being a Math Test and Section 2 being combined Reading and Writing Test called Evidence-Based Reading and Writing.

The Scores in this College Entrance Exam, range between 200-800 for each of the two Sections, and Students from all across the Globe are competing for spaces within Colleges and Universities based on the results of this SAT Exam… Consequently, the resultant ‘Passing Grades’ are virtually influenced by the combined Excellence of those Students taking the Tests at a given time.

This means, a score of 800 - 900 points or 50% - 60% is regarded as failing badly - in the lower 10% bottom of the Barrel - and totally unsuited for entry into any College… Indeed, even 80% grades must settle for lower level Colleges since only Students in the upper 90% range are given consideration for the best Colleges - Clearly, 50% or even 60% is no longer good enough.

Progress & Success are not based on the Toss of a Coin:

As the World gets tougher and more demanding, Careers and Companies are disappearing like never before and survival depends on preparing our Children for present and future Challenges… It would be disastrous to downplay or degrade the level of their accountability and aspirations, for this will encourage excuses to justify abuses and render them handicapped in a World of Giants.

Readying of our Children for their place in this 21^st Century is far too big for mere Good Intentions and the previously accepted average of 50/50 will suggest a game of chance and indecision - No profession – Medical or even Gambling – will accept this… This is a serious Mission and our preparations Today must be steadfast and focused on avoiding the re-sufferings of the past.

PS: I will continue addressing some of your Questions & Comments on Live BVP Radio Programmes