Education Minister Shaik Baksh has contended that while many teachers are committed and dedicated to improving the performance of their students, there are others who are in the habit of “moonlighting” and this attitude is negatively affecting the school system.

He made the observation at a “Face the Community Meeting” at the Wales Community High, West Coast Demerara, on Wednesday, which was part of activities to mark Education Month 2009.

Addressing well over 300 parents at the lively and informative discussion, Baksh pointed out that there are many teachers who teach part of their syllabus in school and save the other portion for their private lessons.

This callous attitude displayed by some teachers, the minister said, is affecting the performance of students and in most cases, those who cannot afford the private lessons.

He called on headteachers to “stop sleeping and wake up” and be more vigilant on their teachers attendance, punctuality and more particularly, their delivery in the classrooms in order to stop the moonlighting.

Baksh pointed out that his ministry is concerned with the performance of students at the primary level and is currently putting measures in place to garner greater results; but all teachers at that level will have to pull their weight to achieve the desired results.

He disclosed that Cabinet has recently approved some $200M and $250M respectively for the purchase of text books for primary and secondary schools.

The minister urged parents to play a more active role in their children’s education, noting that their academic education does not rest solely with the classroom teachers.

He told the well-attended meeting of parents that they can play a part in the process by buying books for their children as birthday presents, or simply reading to them at least three times a week can do the trick.

Baksh explained that the role of his ministry is to set the framework to create a conducive learning environment and parents and teachers have to play their part to ensure the quality delivery of the goods.

The Ministry of Education is planning to issues certificates to successful grade four pupils which will serve as the basis for them sitting the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).

The ministry is proposing too that pupils who fail the National Grade Four Assessment twice be given placement at one of the newly established Six Form schools, catering for pupils who performed poorly at the NGSA.

The Sixth Form, which has been introduced in 40 secondary schools this term, seeks to bring low achievers at the NGSA on par with normal secondary school students.

Baksh pointed out that the remedial classes are held in Form One and the real secondary school work begins in Form Two for students who successfully completed the upgrading programme in Form One.

According to him, this approach will save thousands of students from dropping out of school and he disclosed that a national certificate Third Form examination will soon be implemented.

Successful students at this examination will be eligible for first level entry jobs.

Still on students’ performance, he encouraged Parent Teachers Associations (PTAs) to have at least one meeting in every term with the school which their children attend, to keep abreast with developments and to look at new ways of enhancing the image of the school.

Moreso, in light of the high level of low student attendance in Region Three (West Demerara/ Essequibo Islands), Baksh said the PTAs should keep a close eye on the schools.

He announced that his ministry will be setting up a tracking system in schools to monitor students’ absenteeism and help the Schools Welfare Department to better address truancy.

Baksh said on many occasions while going to work, he sees children going to school after 9:00h.

But he said teachers too have to be more regular and punctual at school, and warned that action will be taken against those who fail to comply with these basic instructions.