Dear Editor,

The current minister of education often waxes poetic about what is needed for the rescue of Jamaica’s education system. And many have lauded Mr Thwaites for his ‘honest’ statements and his headmaster-like sternness in dealing with the challenges of the system.

There is a problem, however, as a deeper look into the statements and attitude of the minister shows a shocking arrogance hidden only by a thin veil of intellectual verbosity. The minister, it seems, has now fully exposed his arrogance, and the teachers are not happy.

I was shocked after the minister’s budget presentation to hear that the cuts he decreed to teachers’ benefits were not arrived at through consultation. Shocked because the Administration of which this minister is a member railed against perceived non-consultation by the previous administration. Shocked also, because the teachers just signed a wage freeze, so it is only reasonable to assume that all intended cuts would have been explained and discussed with them, so that they were clear about what they were signing to.

That the Government hid such an important issue from the teachers when discussing their wages must seem like a betrayal and dishonesty to them, hence the level of anger displayed.

The Government, as a previously strident Opposition, campaigned on a platform of trust, humility, good governance and transparency. A platform that is now so rotted that its remnants are hardly visible.

What I hope, though, for the sake of the students, is that this issue can be ironed out as soon as possible and that Mama P will put some restraints on her all-too-chatty minister. Some tutoring in diplomacy and good governance, at the very least, is necessary.

Andrene Forbes

Ensom Acres

St. Catherine