Exorcism, Principalship And Servanthood
“Education is the most
powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”- Nelson Mandela
There is never a dull moment in Jamaica. It is that time of year again when hundreds of students make the transition from primary to secondary schools, as well as from secondary to tertiary institutions. In recent weeks we have seen an increase in the number of School Leaving Exercises. Graduation is synonymous with happiness, it’s that time when scores of students adorn their schools’ graduation gowns and caps and slow march to the beat of some popular lyrics in the afternoon sun to collect their certificates and to receive awards for academic excellence. The parents of the graduates are usually in the audience taking pictures of their loved one receiving awards. The rehearsals are done repeatedly in order to get it right as the graduating class participates in the numerous songs sang at these exercises. The long awaited Primary Exit Profile (PEP) results have been released by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information. The PEP examination is used to place students in secondary schools. The ensuing debate, controversy and frustration regarding the PEP appears rooted in the departure from the Education Ministry to use scaled scores as against using percentile scores as was done in the past with the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT). However, the lack of school leadership is what is problematic in our education system and where the focus should be. This lack of transformational leadership in so many of our schools stems from the interference of politics in the appointment of principals. The ineptitude of the officials who keep re-appointing bankrupt principals yearly is cause for grave concern. It is disturbing that the welfare of our students is not given a priority. It now seems that one’s pension is at the focus of school leadership. Many of these failed principals lack the fortitude to inspire, motive, and to serve as conduits of change. While we continue this discourse both privately and in the public domain our students continue to be given a back seat. The appointment of principalship is grounded in a network of friends across various levels of the education system who continue to do a disservice to the students of our beloved country. These friends serve as surrogates in ensuring that uninspiring principals are given time over. Distressingly, these surrogates have no interest in the welfare of the students. In 2015, the National Education Inspectorate (NEI) report on public schools inspection mentioned that school leadership and management were unsatisfactory in forty (40%) per cent of schools inspected at that time. One can argue that the percentage is higher in 2019 since the public’s perception of good schools has remained constant while the perception of failed or failing schools continues to increase. This has led to many problems yearly as parents and student select the “good” schools in their primary school exit examinations. Students in schools with superior leadership and management tend to perform better than their counterparts. While much work has been done regarding the leadership deficit in our schools much more work is required in order to bring all schools on a level playing field as is humanly possible. Until the education play field becomes equitable we are always going to have issues with the results of our national examinations especially the Primary Exit Profile (PEP). We also need to put under the microscope appointees to School Boards.
Respect and Accountability
Let us resist the temptation to appoint our friends to School Boards. Unfortunately, in too many instances the Office of the Principalship and that of the Chair of our schools are blurred and lack transparency. We need to ensure that both offices are independent of each other in order to ensure and engender accountability and respect. Too many times our teachers suffer unfairly by decisions made by the principalship of our educational institutions. Sadly, corruption is rife in our schools at all levels and no one really cares. Perhaps it is this cavalier attitude why so many of our School Boards and schools are performing poorly. Maybe the time is now for community leaders to have a greater say in the schools in their geographic area, as well as to lend their voices to issues such as educational leadership and the quality of educations, in order to rescue our schools from the clutches of those who are self-serving and who oftentimes sees themselves as demigods. Perhaps the time has come for us to have a public exorcism of failed principalship, as well as their surrogates in order to stem school corruption. Exorcism is the removal of evil spirits from a place by the use of prayer. Those who aspire to lead must have an impeccable character and integrity. Ephesians 6:12 states “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Many of these leadership appointees are agents of the rulers of the darkness of this world. It is only by fasting and prayer that the chains of wickedness will be broken. We need to return to a place of servanthood in which our students become the main focus. Those who have lost the flame should be asked to vacate the seat for new principalship. We all need to pray earnestly for a spirit to serve others. We cannot have true principalship without servanthood. We continue to extol the positives of Vision 20/30; however, we need to be reminded that there are many hurdles which as a society we need to get rid of in order for us to realize this vision of a new Jamaica. As a society we need to re-evaluate our focus. The primary focus should be on our students.
In the words of Socrates, education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.
@WayneCamo
There is never a dull moment in Jamaica. It is that time of year again when hundreds of students make the transition from primary to secondary schools, as well as from secondary to tertiary institutions. In recent weeks we have seen an increase in the number of School Leaving Exercises. Graduation is synonymous with happiness, it’s that time when scores of students adorn their schools’ graduation gowns and caps and slow march to the beat of some popular lyrics in the afternoon sun to collect their certificates and to receive awards for academic excellence. The parents of the graduates are usually in the audience taking pictures of their loved one receiving awards. The rehearsals are done repeatedly in order to get it right as the graduating class participates in the numerous songs sang at these exercises. The long awaited Primary Exit Profile (PEP) results have been released by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information. The PEP examination is used to place students in secondary schools. The ensuing debate, controversy and frustration regarding the PEP appears rooted in the departure from the Education Ministry to use scaled scores as against using percentile scores as was done in the past with the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT). However, the lack of school leadership is what is problematic in our education system and where the focus should be. This lack of transformational leadership in so many of our schools stems from the interference of politics in the appointment of principals. The ineptitude of the officials who keep re-appointing bankrupt principals yearly is cause for grave concern. It is disturbing that the welfare of our students is not given a priority. It now seems that one’s pension is at the focus of school leadership. Many of these failed principals lack the fortitude to inspire, motive, and to serve as conduits of change. While we continue this discourse both privately and in the public domain our students continue to be given a back seat. The appointment of principalship is grounded in a network of friends across various levels of the education system who continue to do a disservice to the students of our beloved country. These friends serve as surrogates in ensuring that uninspiring principals are given time over. Distressingly, these surrogates have no interest in the welfare of the students. In 2015, the National Education Inspectorate (NEI) report on public schools inspection mentioned that school leadership and management were unsatisfactory in forty (40%) per cent of schools inspected at that time. One can argue that the percentage is higher in 2019 since the public’s perception of good schools has remained constant while the perception of failed or failing schools continues to increase. This has led to many problems yearly as parents and student select the “good” schools in their primary school exit examinations. Students in schools with superior leadership and management tend to perform better than their counterparts. While much work has been done regarding the leadership deficit in our schools much more work is required in order to bring all schools on a level playing field as is humanly possible. Until the education play field becomes equitable we are always going to have issues with the results of our national examinations especially the Primary Exit Profile (PEP). We also need to put under the microscope appointees to School Boards.
Respect and Accountability
Let us resist the temptation to appoint our friends to School Boards. Unfortunately, in too many instances the Office of the Principalship and that of the Chair of our schools are blurred and lack transparency. We need to ensure that both offices are independent of each other in order to ensure and engender accountability and respect. Too many times our teachers suffer unfairly by decisions made by the principalship of our educational institutions. Sadly, corruption is rife in our schools at all levels and no one really cares. Perhaps it is this cavalier attitude why so many of our School Boards and schools are performing poorly. Maybe the time is now for community leaders to have a greater say in the schools in their geographic area, as well as to lend their voices to issues such as educational leadership and the quality of educations, in order to rescue our schools from the clutches of those who are self-serving and who oftentimes sees themselves as demigods. Perhaps the time has come for us to have a public exorcism of failed principalship, as well as their surrogates in order to stem school corruption. Exorcism is the removal of evil spirits from a place by the use of prayer. Those who aspire to lead must have an impeccable character and integrity. Ephesians 6:12 states “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Many of these leadership appointees are agents of the rulers of the darkness of this world. It is only by fasting and prayer that the chains of wickedness will be broken. We need to return to a place of servanthood in which our students become the main focus. Those who have lost the flame should be asked to vacate the seat for new principalship. We all need to pray earnestly for a spirit to serve others. We cannot have true principalship without servanthood. We continue to extol the positives of Vision 20/30; however, we need to be reminded that there are many hurdles which as a society we need to get rid of in order for us to realize this vision of a new Jamaica. As a society we need to re-evaluate our focus. The primary focus should be on our students.
In the words of Socrates, education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.
Wayne Campbell is an
educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as
they affect culture and or gender issues.
waykam@yahoo.com@WayneCamo
©
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