Having foraged the annals, this writer has struggled to identify one occasion in which Priya Manickchand, demonstrated visionary leadership. For clueless she has been, and likely will forever be, ever since she has had stewardship of the Education Ministry. For clueless she has been, taking 2yrs to reopen schools, after the Covid pandemic. For clueless she has been, not actioning the UNICEF report, thus resulting in 20 deaths. For clueless she has been, with minimal school security, therefore leaving our teachers bloodied from assaults. For clueless she has been, with the lack of disciplinary policies in our school, evidenced by increasing antisocial behaviours.
The fact is, four schools were reduced to smouldering ashes, yet Priya Manickchand, epitomising incompetence, never thought of having all schools inspected for fire preparedness. For it was only until the fifth school was burnt, with twenty deaths, that the realisation was upon her that schools should be fire inspected. Now once again, down to her lack of proactivity and foresight, eight schools will not be reopened, with thousands of children being further educationally denied.
Nevertheless, we are cognisant that our children have a 2yr education deficit, down to PPP mismanagement of Covid. For most bewilderingly, during the Covid pandemic, PPP chose to reopen everywhere else, apart from schools. Consequentially we had, children being over 2yrs without any formal in-class teaching. And as a direct consequence, their academic achievements declined, evidence in the NGSA and CSEC results. However, rather than addressing this abysmal post-Covid decline, with policies to remedy, PPP is focused on the top students, whitewashing the massive failures. But the reality is, at the CSEC level, record numbers are failing to achieve five subjects or passes in Maths and English. Then at the NGSA, an equal record numbers are failing to achieve the minimum mark, even as worrying numbers are failing in Maths and English.
Therefore, what can’t be ignored is, these results evidencing that our children are academically way behind, thus could ill afford to have further absence from the classrooms. However, that’s the reality for thousands of children, as a consequence of uncompleted infrastructure works. Infrastructure works, that Manickchand failed to have had effective oversight.
Mark’s Take
Notwithstanding, leaders who embrace accountability, are forever cognisant that the buck stops with them. As a result, for these uncompleted infrastructure works,
the buck of accountability should stop with Priya Manickchand. And with the buck stopping with her, Manickchand and in extension PPP, should take ultimate responsibility for this catastrophe.
Having said that, at the Education Ministry, there can’t be anything more important than our children’s education. Therefore, as the custodian of said Ministry, Priya Manickchand should’ve been cognisant of this. And being cognisant, Priya Manickchand should’ve have had effective oversight for the said infrastructure works. Such that, if they went behind schedule, Priya Manickchand would’ve been informed, as a matter of urgency. And once informed as a matter of urgency, Priya Manickchand was expected to make decisions, that were in the best interest of our children.
But as it’s, two days prior to our children returning to school, Priya Manickchand has issued a press release, informing that thousands of children will not be able to attend school. And with this impromptu press release, many concerned parents are burdened with questions.
- Didn’t Priya Manickchand had oversight for these infrastructure works?
- When was Priya Manickchand informed that the infrastructure works were behind schedule?
- What Priya Manickchand did when she was informed about the status of the infrastructure works?
- When will these infrastructure works be completed?
- Why now shift responsibility to the schools instead of it being centralised at the Ministry?
- When will our children be able to return to school?
However, this is the reality, having lost 2yrs of education down to PPP incompetent Covid mismanagement, our children could ill-afford to lose more time from the classroom. Moreover, with UNICEF categorising PPP virtual education as one of the worst in the hemisphere, there is no avenue to fill the gap created by schools’ closures.
Thus, to be repeated ad nauseam, our children having lost 2yrs of education, could ill afford to lose any more time from the classroom. But that is what seems to be the case, as eight schools are closed, with thousands denied schooling. And for this incompetence, Priya Manickchand, and in extension PPP, should shoulder the responsibility. As a result, Priya Manickchand, as the custodian of the Education Ministry, should do the honourable thing and resign. Resign, for this is one too many failures.
