The Eminent Closure of Primary Schools in Jamaica

There are quite a few schools in Jamaica that have a population of under one hundred students.  These schools are found in various areas throughout the island; the journey to some of the locations is nothing short of an adventure ride, where the road network and mode of transportation may be described as interesting!  The ministry of education has said that it is very costly for them to finance such schools and therefore it would be best to them closed.   After much query, the reasons for the dwindling population varies as follows:

1. leadership style of the school's administration

2.  inadequate toilet facilities

3. poor classroom fixtures

4.  lack of confidence in a teaching staff.

5.  the want of parents for children to attend a name-brand school, and etc.

One must understand that all schools have equally trained teachers, leaders and curriculum programme.  What is very different is the perception of parents and students of a school.  Perception of a place of learning can either make or break a school and it just takes a simple bad bout of publicity and the exodus begins.



Now, how the ministry of education is dealing with small schools get mixed reaction from various stake holders.  It is said the closing of schools will create savings on the ministry's budget.  At first, the aging principals were replaced with what was viewed with energetic innovative leaders who in some instances, helped to improve the academic performances and image of the school which in turn encourage parents to send their children to the improving schools.  However, there are some schools, no matter how one repackage, re-brand or replace leaders, they just seem that the parents refuse to send their children to their district schools.  This has left the ministry with the tough decision to close the under performing schools that cannot show credible improvement of one form or another.

Closure of schools come with costs:
1. relocation of teachers and Principal.
2. student placement done by the education ministry.
3. transportation of students to new location
4. parents finding additional for food (lunch), etc.

Then there is the repercussion to the community:

1. ancillary workers out of a job.
2. school boarder vendors out of an income from the sale of their goods.
3.  small transport operators loosing seat fares.
4. slow death of a community (community members relocating to ensure better access to education).

And there are still more!  It is hoped that when the closure comes, that the savings calculated from this action will in fact save the ministry some money.  Here is the question I have at this point,

seeing that the teachers will be relocated, what will become of the principals of these schools? Will they be without jobs?  Will the students be given fares to attend the far distant over crowded popular schools? Most of all, what will become of the building space?  How will this be protected from vandalism and thefts?

There are more questions than answers with this eminent closure of at least 20 of our primary/all age schools.  From this closure,it is hope that the savings that were calculated will be realized and that both students and teachers in the end will both reap the benefits.