I am in agreement with Dr. Ruthmae Sears that the national average is an illusion, but not for the reasons that she has stated.
With all the information and professional knowledge she has at her disposal she could have spent some time dealing with the topic of illiteracy.
How the information is presented, tabulated or made relevant does not change the fact that for almost three decades our education system has been turning out students who cannot read or write.
I am happy that most of them can count. These students, like myself, have reached the conclusion that something is not adding up, especially with the proliferation of master’s and doctorate degrees within the teaching profession.
Perhaps it is time for the nation to see the true picture, so that parents, teachers and politicians can have an equal opportunity to hang their heads in shame.
Separate the private school results from the government school results and then have Dr. Sears and Belinda Wilson — the leader of the Bahamas Union of Teachers — attempt to justify why the system is the way it is.
Ms. Wilson’s interview on Darold Miller’s show this week informs us that the focus of her administration, like that of Dr. Sears, is more about saving face and keeping the status quo in order.
Release the results and let the public see how much we are paying to perpetuate this particular illusion.
If some teachers are not ashamed to collect a salary for what they are doing, there should not be a problem in letting the public see “all of the results.”
Edward Hutcheson
