By Sue-Ann Wayow
CHILDREN are dropping out of school simply to make ends meet says Member of Parliament for Tabaquite Anita Haynes.
The Opposition’s Shadow Minister of Education in a press release on Monday said that the ministry’s information that almost 3000 pupils dropped out of school in two years was proof that government has failed those most vulnerable.
She said with increased dropout rates during the Covid-19 pandemic, the situation could have mitigated had government intervened efficiently.
Haynes said, “In 2020, the former Education Minister reported that there were 65 000 students without a learning device. In January 2021, the JSC on Social Services and Public Administration revealed that 46,770 students, at both primary and secondary levels, had never logged on to online learning platforms.
“In March that same year I questioned the Minister of Education in the Parliament regarding what measures were being put in place to address the high level of student absenteeism on virtual platforms and what additional resources were extended to the Student Support Services Division.
“I also raised the issue of student reintegration when schools reopened physically and called for data-based measures to minimise the negative impacts of learning loss.”
All of her concerns were not heeded she said adding that she also urged the Education ministry to combat the data deficit and implement data-driven policy interventions to address key challenges in the education sector such as declining student performance, student indiscipline and the need to functionally integrate technology in education delivery.
Haynes said, “If this administration were serious about their so called all-of-government approach, there would be a clear plan of action to tackle this matter at the root by treating with socio-economic challenges. The fact is, children are dropping out of school to help make ends meet at home.
“The absence of executive polices to frontally treat with this matter is a poor reflection on the government – either they are incapable of doing what needs to be done or they have deliberately abandoned our children who fell through the cracks of the education system in order to save face. Nevertheless, as citizens we must continue to push the government uphold their end of the social contract lest we suffer the consequences.”
The opposition should be heard and something is done
The Opposition don’t have a say and why not?
If our Parliament were independent of the Executive then the ruling Party in Parliament would be allowed to decide on what is best for the Country, and not fear their Political Leader would not re-appoint them.
We do need Constitution Reform three independent branches to govern in 2st Centruy, where so much have change in less than sixty yrs. The Executive the Parliament should be separated in representation.