Despite all the money that is being spent on education, with a few exceptions, we are not producing top quality students

Enlarged budget can't buy good education

tribune242 editorial


IN a joint statement Tuesday the PLP announced that if elected as the next government its administration would double the $200 million education budget.

Education Minister Desmond Bannister, whose head, unlike some others, is not lost in the clouds, asked them a legitimate question: Please explain where the money is coming from.

Mr Bannister has had to face the reality of a tight budget for the past four years, and no matter who is in the next government, there will be no spare cash to double anything.

Not only would it be nice to know where the PLP has its secret money tree, but we would like to inform the party that money -- no matter how much is spent -- does not necessarily translate into good education. It is now time to stop the big talk about money and concentrate on quality. With the whole world terrified of a recession any political party that promises to double any budget is really out to fool the people. All we warn Bahamians is: Caveat emptor, in other words buyer beware!

And, just in case the PLP have forgotten, the Bahamas is very much a part of the world, almost completely dependent on the United States which is now being torn apart politically as Democrats and Republicans fight over how to reduce their country's debt and what budgets to slash.

During its five years as the government we have been given no reason to have confidence that the PLP knows how to spend the people's money wisely. Imagine planning to build a $3.1 million school for 26 students in Salina Point, Acklins.

The Ingraham government came just in time to save taxpayers' money. It's always easy to splash money around when it's not your own -- the PLP were past masters at the art.

Instead of a $3 million plus school, a contract was signed to build two additional classrooms, a library and an administration block. More than adequate for 26 students and their teachers.

The FNM also cancelled a number of road and school contracts that totalled more than $22 million. We must remember that there are 37 inhabited islands in our archipelago, each one requiring schools, health clinics, roads, communication, electricity, water and local government. A group of islands is far more expensive to finance than one large land mass, which needs only one central government and necessary infrastructure. In an archipelagic situation each island needs its own mini-government. Few of these islands earn enough to support themselves. This puts a terrible financial strain on central government and those more prosperous islands that have to contribute to the central coffer.

Despite all the money that is being spent on education, with a few exceptions, we are not producing top quality students. We are -- like so many other countries -- graduating a troublesome underclass, minus skills, ill equipped for a meaningful job, who eventually drift into a life of crime. Even those with better opportunities get drawn into the gang culture, where knives, guns and bullies rule the streets.

It all goes back to broken homes, illegitimate births and young people who have nothing to gain, and yet nothing to lose.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, who has just had a taste of the damage that youth "who do not know right from wrong" can do, has vowed to "fix broken Britain" by promoting family values and education.

Le Figaro, one of France's leading newspapers, reported this week that Education Minister Luc Chatel wants to reinstate morality lessons in primary schools. France too has had its share of rioting and burning in Paris by angry youth run amok.

Four areas are emphasized, reports Figaro: "Introduction to notions of morality, self-esteem, social life, respect for others and respect for property. Children will learn to distinguish good from evil. They will ponder loyalty, frankness, or 'individual merit.' Hygiene, self-protection, solidarity, tolerance and rights and duties are part of the programme as well. Finally, they will learn to respect 'others' belongings' and 'public goods.'"

No government needs to double the education budget to get to the bedrock of our troubles.

Social values are the essentials that money cannot buy. Society's broken fences -- our children -- are in urgent need of mending if this country is to produce an educated, courteous citizenry with a moral conscience.

September 08, 2011

tribune242 editorial

Caribbean Blog International