We are left disappointed by the government’s decision to withdraw the introduction of music and physical education teachers in government primary schools.
Indeed, what had been earlier hailed as a long-overdue step toward more well-rounded learning is now being shafted, with the government’s justification of this cancellation simply not good enough; saying the plan to do this was flawed and would have created inequality achieves little but portray to the nation that our education system continues to be regressive.
We are wholeheartedly behind the rights groups and cultural organizations who rightfully stated that the plan was essential for national development; holistic education has been something our children have been needing, and given the abysmal state of our education system for decades, this step was one trending towards the positive.
Nations progress when there is a focus on well-rounded education for its children. By doing away with plans to expand upon what has often been criticized as an education that does not fit with the needs of the 21st century, we are sending the wrong message to the masses.
For years now, regardless of the administration in charge, our education system, from the primary to the tertiary level, has been criticized for not being ambitious nor progressive enough to prepare our children to take our nation where it needs to go.
It is imperative that successive administrations are able to do better and listen to education experts about the kind of pedagogy and curricula we need to create well-rounded individuals that will benefit our society and nation. It is time to abandon the retrograde thinking that dictates our education policy and do what is best for future generations.
