THE political opportunists in the land do not care how destructive their stratagems are when they are lobbying against the Government, and it is to their shame that they have no remorse in using the nation’s children in advancing their self-serving agendas.There are systems and processes in place to address problems in the education sector. However, students are currently being encouraged to participate in a lawless culture of taking to the streets and shutting down schools, by no less than their own parents, at the behest of politicians, without attempting recourse to the proper processes to make determinations and addressing problematic issues.
This confrontational attitude overspills into their adult lives where they do not resort to peaceful conflict-resolution, but often with dire and even tragic consequences.
Teachers, who are supposed to be role models, most often exhibit appalling anti-social and abhorrent tendencies and are oftentimes themselves devoid of the etiquette necessary to frame civilised behaviour.
This is the sad reality at President College, over which the PNC considers they have jurisdictional rights, with some of their supporters on the staff consistently creating situations of discontent and contention without any attempt to allow management to direct the policies and programmes, and address the issues without vitriolic interference.
But President College is serving the purpose for which it is intended, and any unprejudiced analysis of the school and its functions would testify to this. Granted, everything is not perfect. There are problems; but even homes have problems. However, no institution that is subject to political strife can be run to optimum capacity and achieve to its maximum potential.
President College is a home-away-from-home with warm-hearted, caring house parents who are very loyal to the institution that they serve, and very loving to their charges. They ensure that the children’s welfare is placed paramount; and while they maintain discipline, they expend affection in equal measure.
The institution which is often depicted as a horror-house in some sections of the media is instead a place of great happiness, which provides the children with the requisite environment to enhance their overall development as good human beings above all, as well as the premier scholars that they are.
A while ago, Chronicle spoke to housefather, Mr. John Forde, who was incensed when he spoke about the false stories that he continually sees in the local media about the institution that he serves and loves. At that time there had been stories that the school was without potable water, but Mr. Forde had pointed out the trestles with tanks for every story in the dorm and the man responsible for maintenance in the facility, who was in the process of pumping water to refill the tanks. He provided the assurance that the pump attendant ensures that every area is provided with water.
Mrs Shurcina Hope-Hinds, the Administrator of House Services and Student Welfare, had at that time endorsed what Mr. Forde said.
She said that, like any building or institution, even private homes, there is some wear and tear over the years, in some locations more than in others, but that there is always an attempt to rectify these whenever they occur, except that in some instances bureaucracy may delay the process somewhat.
While admitting that, as in any educational institution – even homes, there are problem areas, but she is convinced that there could be problem-resolution without making the children suffer and traumatising them when they most need support – which is the time when they are writing examinations. She feels that the children’s needs should take priority over any other consideration.
She said that, like in every home with siblings, they would tease each other, but that the loyalty, camaraderie and affection between batch mates was very strong, and that the love and shared experiences in President’s College, more than in any institution, is bridging the racial and other divides beautifully because, while children are encouraged to celebrate their different cultures and religions, they all share in each other’s celebrations and have learnt to respect each other for the individual person that each one is, and to bond accordingly, with lifelong and enduring friendships forged between students hailing from one end of the country to another.
The doomsayers and naysayers will continue to have their say to make themselves relevant in the socio-political fray, but those whom are entrusted with the nation’s children in the various institutions of care and learning under the auspices of the current Government know the truth and should be commended instead of having to face the constant carping and unjustified criticisms of the opportunistic Opposition and hostile media cabal.
