Opposition spokesman on Education, Damion Crawford, citing the poor performance of Jamaican students in this year’s CSEC examinations where just 18 per cent received a passing grade in five subjects including mathematics and English language, referenced a biblical analogy to describe the government’s stewardship of the education sector.

“In fact, 13,000 children (at the PEP level) this year did not achieve proficiency in mathematics. They asked for bread, they were given stones,” Crawford stated, adding that 11,000 children did not achieve proficiency in English language.

He made the statement at the public session of the 86th annual conference of the People’s National Party (PNP) at the National Arena on Sunday.

“And then when it come to CXC it get worse because (only) 18 per cent of Jamaican children get five subjects including maths and English and then I hear that the Minister of Education (Fayval Williams) is seeking a promotion. What can go so?” he asked rhetorically as the arena erupted in cheers.

It has been widely speculated that Williams could replace Dr Nigel Clarke as Minister of Finance and the Public Service.

According to Crawford, “by right she should be asked for her resignation but I understand what is happening in the JLP (Jamaica Labour Party) because they have no talent. The JLP reminds me of an artiste that go to studio with 10 words an wha mek 30 songs. What can go so?”

Crawford told comrades that “we have found the stone heap and we have found the serpent’s nest and I guarantee that in five years after we (the PNP) take Government, we will defeat Trinidad, we will defeat Barbados, in CXC, the same way we treat dem in CARIFTA (Games)”.

He elicited even louder cheers when he stated that “I know Kartel is here but when it comes to education I am the teacher”.

Entertainer Vybz Kartel, who was released from prison in July after nearly 13 years, made an appearance at the conference in the company of his attorney, Isat Buchanan. The artiste is also referred to as ‘The Teacha’.

Crawford offered solutions, stating that “the first stone heap that must be mashed down is absenteeism”. He noted that in rural areas, absenteeism was at 37 per cent and at 18 per cent in urban areas.

“The first thing we’re going to do is make sure we have boarding facilities for at least 30 per cent of our school population and then we’re going to give one meal per child in school,” he told the conference.

Anticipating pushback, including from the governing JLP as it relates to the affordability of such programmes, Crawford argued that “they say they can’t afford one meal per child in school but they will afford three meals per adult in prison”.

“They will say they can’t afford to board a child in school for five years but they’re planning a big investment in prisons to board you with gun for 15 and with murder for 30,” he added.

The education spokesman said a future PNP Government will fight to keep teachers in Jamaica via a teacher retention plan that will make it easier for them to own a house or a motor vehicle.

Noting the high level of recruitment of Jamaican teachers, Crawford said: “We will meet with the embassies and our friends from the embassies who want our talent to help us to prepare an investment so that they can get, and we can have, and our children aren’t left without teachers”.

He said PNP President Mark Golding was the man to make it happen as he urged party supporters to vote in the next general, declaring Golding to be “trustworthy and honest”.

“I don’t know what is going to happen Tuesday when that thing (the Integrity Commission report) is tabled (in the Parliament) but if you surrounded by 40 thieves maybe you are Alibaba,” he concluded.