Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

VI school system needs to be revised & enhanced - Smith

Smith says the education system in secondary schools needs to be revised and enhanced. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - For a student to be academically successful in their years attending high school, there are certain key factors that has to be on-point for the learning process to be effective for that student. Factors such as how the subject is being taught and if the person teaching that subject is aware of the ‘knicks and knacks’ of that specific subject.

Umoja’s host Cromwell Smith, while addressing listeners of his show on May 31 2012, stated that there are people within the Virgin Islands (VI) leaving school who do not have the skills to be successful.

He said that something is wrong with what is being taught, how it is being taught and who are teaching it as well as the facilities. “Something is wrong with the whole system,” said Smith.

He added that he doesn’t necessarily mean to get rid of everything that is being taught or everybody who is teaching it, but that the system should be enhanced to produce better results.

“There is something not working in the system right now, but this problem has to be solved.”

By revising and enhancing the school system, the host stated that better results will definitely be produced and the children would be better equipped to face a brighter and successful future.

13 Responses to “VI school system needs to be revised & enhanced - Smith”

  • dominant (07/06/2012, 14:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The teachers should know children that hav edifficulties of learning. I learned that dyslexia besides autism is very rampant these days in children. And I will like to know if there is something put in place fo r children like these to enable to grasp the education(curiculum) and be successful in life. I believe that alot of teachers may cast these children aside and think that they are retarded and never will learn what they have been taught. It is not necessariliy, the education here.
  • Really! (07/06/2012, 14:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I have a little problem with how we talk about the system which is actually the same system that most of us came from. I agree that the system needs an overhaul and enhancements but to squarely blame the system for the deficiency in students I think is wrong. The problem that these students have now actually starts at home and in the communities and our society in general. Why did the system work for so many of us before? The attitude of these students and their parents is what is creating this problem along with or decaying moral fabric and negative and biased influences as seen in the judicial and political systems. We have a serious societal problem but we continue to try put blame in the wrong places. We have alot of work to do and our problems will not be solved by just fixing (or I rather say enhancing) our educational system, we need to fix (or enhance) all the other systems as well. As they say one hand can't clap!
    • LOL (07/06/2012, 15:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Spot on, agree 100% with Really! This same situation is replicated with youth all over the world, its not just a BVI problem but a society in general problem.
      • Ayana (07/06/2012, 17:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        To Really and Lol I hear you and understand where your comment is coming from to some extent but unfortunately in my experience, the only thing that stays constant is the word of God. Everything else changes and we must adapt. The education we received was good for that time as that was the way the world was then. Every country has to continuously adjust and adapt its education system so that it can continue to produce persons who can compete on the world stage. If we are happy to say that a system which educated us (me having left it some 22 years ago) is the same system that is educating our children, then something is really wrong (and may be this is the crux of the problem), as we should not even be saying that, much less be comfortable saying it. Cromwell is right, other schools right here in the Territory are preparing their students to be successful and I am not speaking only about academics, but well rounded individuals, who can read, speak, write, socialise and move with confidence. I do not think it is fair to blame society or the parents solely as the parents are responding to societal pressures just to survive. The education system must respond to that as it will not work the other way around as easily. Governments has to see this and respond. Every other country is doing it and the BVI is no exception. Our children have lost the ability to even compete on the BVI stage (not finding jobs and being successful) much less the world stage. If we fail to adpat, we will become extinct. I believe it was Darwin that said this. I know we do not like to hear this as BVIslanders (as this issue is a live debate amongst me and my friends ever so often), but I am a BVIslander and it is the truth. I will take my licks for this post but I do not believe that we can continue to avoid this issue by making excuses as unfortunately, the facts are profusely and more rapidly (as the days go by) bearing out Cromwell's concerns.
    • Crank Shaft (07/06/2012, 15:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      You are absolutely correct! However, it's human nature to put the blame elsewhere as opposed to blaming ourselves as leaders and parents. This same system is still producing stellar students who go abroad and blow those international students out of the water. Why? Look at their upbringing! Their parents are most often involved with their studies and life on a whole. They have the necessary environment that fosters growth and hard work as opposed to excuses and blaming others. Until we all have pride in ourselves and the youth, they will continue to go wayward and rebel against the bad treatment. Too often adults are now caught up in the so called finer things to pay attention to the kids. I hear parents all the time saying "That teacher fail my child, Give he/she an F". Huh? How is that possible? I think every parent should speak to their child's teacher at MINIMUM once each week to keep check on their progress. You cannot check on your child only when the bad report comes home and then curse everybody. There are parents that just take their kids' word for it and don't check anything further. Kids will always be kids! The best of us, if we knew we could get away with something, we would do it. I'm so grateful for the parents that I have because at that time they never played with me. I couldn't go home and say the teacher failed me or hit me for nothing, that would be another hard clout and punishment. It's time we take care of our youth, treat them right, spend time with them, study with them, read with them, research with them, ensure that they become parts of youth programs, scouts etc. Engage in sports and other positive activities. There are so many things we can be doing but we fail the kids and blame others. It's sad to see the road we're going but I think there is hope. A measuring stick as proof of just how bad things are is if you visit any of the sporting activities for kids, basketball, baseball or otherwise, you would see 50 kids and 10 parents. When the event is over, there are at least 20 kids just roaming, no money, no food and even begging. Where are the parents? Out with man/woman or doing their hair, could give a shit. Then its the teacher's fault? I could never be a teacher, I don't know how they do it, I don't think we can really pay our good teachers enough. They not only have to deal with teaching, they have to deal with counselling and dealing with the rebellion and issues caused by the home. It's not fair!
      • 1 (07/06/2012, 22:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        every dog and cat got an option on something even throw some of them are so ridiculous and fill with hate...all I have to say is thank god for the BVI and freedom to blog...Oh British Virgin Islands our qualities can never be denied.
  • weed (07/06/2012, 15:55) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    trust me the cxc is not the way to go..Myron out of touch
  • The children will suffer (07/06/2012, 16:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    During elections Myron was buying beds and so concerned about children to win votes. Now that hes been elected he just been playing cold politics and has hardly had time for the kids. I wonder if he knows he should be working and studying dilegently to really be effective at what hes doing. Instead of blogging and trying to become a dictator he should focus on his job instead of what everyone else is doing.
  • so right (07/06/2012, 19:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Cromwell is right and Myron is the man to do
    • best (08/06/2012, 23:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      give poor funny man a break deman ayo always on he and the child trying he best jah
  • virgin (07/06/2012, 21:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    i said before we need some phds in our education system. Seems like no one understands the basic principle underlying a Broader, Bolder Approach to school reform is that all our efforts to raise student achievement cannot ignore the unmet social needs of children, particularly those related to concentrated poverty—inadequate health, housing, and nutrition. Research has shown that these conditions have a tremendous impact upon child development and learning.
  • really (08/06/2012, 10:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    there r children wif special needs attending primary school which have never been evaluted promises was made to be evaluated ... one on one meeting was promised famous one>ill look into it...
  • PLEASE TELL ME DATS NOT WATS HAPPENING (08/06/2012, 10:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    OH YES REALLY THERE R KIDZ WIF SPECIAL NEEDS !13/14 YRS OLD IN PRIMARY SCHOOL RITE NOW . THE QUESTION IM ASKING AND ILL KEEP ON ASKING > WATS NEX . WAT IS BEING PUT IN PLACE FOR THEM ...WITHOUT BEING EVALUATED R THEY GOING TO BE SHIP TO THE TECHNICAL SCHOOL IN BAUGHERS BAY.. WHERE THEY PLACE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY FEELLIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER Y OH Y LISTEN TO THE CRIES OF THE PARENT WHO R GOING THROUGH DIS PLEEZE SPEK UP PARENTS WIF KIDS WIF SPECIAL NEEDS SPEAK UP THEY HAVE A VOICE WE HAVE A VOICE......


Create a comment


Submit comment

Create a comment

Submit comment
Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.