3,000 graduates 'lack literacy & math skills'
By MEGAN REYNOLDS
Tribune Staff Reporter
mreynolds@tribunemedia.net:
AROUND 3,000 high school graduates estimated to have entered the workforce this month may be doing so without the basic literacy and numeracy skills required for further education.
Estimates based on the Ministry of Education's 2008 statistics predict around 40 per cent of 5,000 graduates from public and private schools will continue their studies at the College of the Bahamas (COB), Bahamas Vocational and Technical Institute (BTVI) or at colleges and universities abroad.
Around 20 per cent of government school leavers are thought to continue with their education after high school, while the remaining 80 per cent either choose not to enroll in tertiary education or lack the basic literacy and numeracy skills required, Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary Elma Garraway said.
Education department statistics show 41.6 per cent of around 5,000 graduates went on to tertiary education in 2008, and it is estimated this year's figures will be similar.
Mrs Garraway said many government school graduates who may want to continue their studies at COB, or develop practical job skills at BTVI, are often held back by a low level of literacy and mathematics.
"Those students who would normally go to BTVI because they are skilled can't go if they do not have that level of numeracy and literacy required, because all of the institutions require a certain level of reading and comprehension," said Mrs Garraway.
"If people are not reading it impacts their ability to solve a problem because it determines how wide your array of knowledge is to help them understand a problem.
"And it places a restriction on the numbers that go to BTVI and participate in the certification courses."
Schools are now working hard to improve students' basic literacy and numeracy skills before they graduate so they can have the option of going on to further education, Mrs Garraway said.
The computer programme "Autoskills" has been launched throughout government schools for students to practice English and mathematics in their own time.
And CV Bethel has launched another computer programme named "Novanet" to help students with language and math skills.
But high school students could also do with a little encouragement from parents, the said Mrs Garraway.
"Even by just reading the newspaper with your child, and expanding their knowledge will help," she said.
"If you start when they are young they will go on to read and gather knowledge so they will not be leaving school in this position.
"It's such a pity when this should be known from primary school level, and with the parenting and directive intervention they should have no problem in developing that.
"Too many parents abandon the children once they reach seventh, eighth or ninth grade, and we need to keep the parents engaged with students."
Parents who do not have the time to spend reading with their children or helping them develop essential job skills should take advantage of after-school programmes and summer vacation programmes orchestrated by the Ministry of Education, urban renewal associations or churches, youth and community groups, Mrs Garraway said.
Those who have graduated without the literacy and numeracy skills they need - can enroll in specialist catchment programmes at BTVI.
July 10, 2010
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