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Former principal wants national lessons programme

by Anesta Henry
3 min read
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Veteran educator Jeff Broomes is calling for the introduction of a National Tutoring Initiative to assist children from disadvantaged communities who are losing out on education as a result of alterations to the teaching environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Broomes told Barbados TODAY that following an influx of calls from parents asking him to give lessons to their children who appear to be falling behind in their school work as they struggle to keep up with the existing blended online and face-to-face approach to teaching and learning, that such an initiative was needed.

“I think almost a dozen parents have called me inquiring about me giving lessons to help their children who are being disadvantaged. I am not doing in-person lessons at this time. I am doing online lessons. But if people in the society can just come onboard, I am sure it can help.

“It is so clear to me that this country is going to be struggling ten to 15 years down the road if we are not taking care of these children. These children are going forward with large gaps in their knowledge base. The bright ones may get through, but imagine those from the disadvantaged communities,” he said.

The educator pointed out that in every school in Barbados there are children who work below most of their classmates and require specific attention and interventions. He said during the ongoing COVID-19 times, these children have been suffering most, particularly against the fact that some of them come from disadvantaged homes where electricity and computers are only dreams.

He made it clear that ignoring these challenges in many ways guarantees society of a future defined by deviance and crime.

“This seems to be a clarion call for those whom this country has given to now to do what we can to protect its legacy. Retired educators, alumni, youth leaders, young professionals, college and university students all have a role to play as subject and age-specific tutors.

“The focus of this assistance intended to complement regular in-school and teacher coordinated zoom teaching should be the established mandatory core subjects including English, Mathematics, General Studies, Science and foreign languages,” he said.

Broomes suggested that the National Tutoring Initiative should be conducted during normal school time, allowing for the use of school resources, thereby assisting those who may have limitations at home who are the ones most in need of assistance. He suggested that the plan would offer a high level of supervision.

“The days and times of the proposed tutoring should be timetabled by the school working in conjunction with the coordinating body. This would be the one interacting with those who choose to register as tutors.

“With a clear recognition that government cannot do all and that tutors’ time and efforts are of value, a financial structure should be developed. Not helping these children will prove to be more expensive than giving them much-needed support. This is a programme that cries out for a public-private sector partnership,” he said.
(AH)

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