Less texting and more learning, PM urges students
Thursday, September 09, 2010
PRIME Minister Bruce Golding is urging students to use cellphones and computers for learning instead of only texting friends and playing games.
At the beginning of the school year when pressure is being placed on government, teachers and parents to make the education system a success, Golding called on the students themselves to play their part -- by learning.
"Teachers can teach, parents can support, but there is one thing that nobody can do for you, and that is to learn," the prime minister said on Sunday.
Speaking to an audience of mostly parents and students at the Eastern Bell Education Programme (EBEP) awards ceremony at the Mona Visitors' Lodge at the University of the West Indies, Golding noted how more accessible information is today compared to when he was in school.
Back then he had to trek to the Institute of Jamaica or the St Andrew Parish Library on Tom Redcam Avenue to access books, unlike today when "the museums and encyclopedias of the world" are available at the click of a computer mouse.
He urged them to use the computer to "get on top of that information" instead of "spending hours playing games on the computer" or "spending hours texting your friends" with the cellphone.
Golding advised the students to stay ahead of their class by reading the upcoming chapters of their books before it is taught in class. "Make good use of the opportunity you have," he said.
He also advised parents to help their children by reviewing their homework. "Even if you don't understand it yourself, demand to see the book," he said.
This year, a total of 184 students from the constituency attending secondary and tertiary institutions received scholarships and grants valuing $3.5 million under the EBEP, which was started by member of Parliament for Eastern St Andrew Dr St Aubyn Bartlett in 2002.
They included 87 GSAT awardees from the five primary schools in the constituency.
More than 800 scholarships at all levels had been given out since its inception.
The number of tertiary awardees had mushroomed from 10 last year to 28 this year.
Dr Bartlett emphasised that the EBEP was not political in that the students are chosen by the school principals.
Noting the increasing number of awardees each year had put pressure on the programme, he urged the students to "put me in trouble next year by doing well on your exams".
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9/9/2010
Texting, blogging and social networking is good from a keeping in contact point of view.
It is, however, a DISASTER for writing and comprehension ... and don't even mention what it has done to spelling!
9/9/2010
What about "thou shalt not lie to the Jamaican people"? Does the PM think that would be a strong message we need to be passing on to Jamaican young people? What about the need to resist hugging up Area Dons Mr. PM or setting up road blocks for their Extraditions to the US? Maybe, just maybe the PM has no moral authority to be giving advice of any type to our youngsters!
9/9/2010
Reading for self and national improvement has never been a priority in Jamaica Mr. PM. What makes you think that technology and readily available information will change that?
9/9/2010
The PM is absolutely correct. I remember as a child my good friend and I would walk to Tom Redcam six days a week. Our trek to the library continued up until our last day in high school. Nowadays I don't see my younger relatives taking the same kind of dedication to learning as we did. Instead they spend hours watching cable, playing video games, on the cell phones or on facebook. Parents must take responsibility and ensure that their child is putting in the requisite work to be successful.
9/9/2010
It seems society in jamaica is adopting undesirable traits from abroad.From texting instead of learning.Wearing baggy pants,drugs use,pornography,greed , corruption.Whereas certain things from other countries are worth adopting like economic advancement,greater job and educational opportinties erosion of moral codes,indisciplne coupled with lack of common decency,respect for others and proper manners are not desired.Mandatory daily religios teachings in schools creates the bedrock for ethics.
9/9/2010
Tell that to minister Daryl vaz Mr.PM every time i see him in parliament he has his head buried in his phone typing away
9/9/2010
Jamaica has made a quantum leap, technologically speaking. People have failed to take advantage of these advances. As a child I was fortunate to have a set of Encyclopedia in the house. Now the world is at your fingertips. Villages which had no roads or electricity now have high speed internet access. I used to have to take 2 country buses to the Parish Library. Now instead of research, its Facebook MySpace Twitter Plixi and of course Games and texting. Its Sad.
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