The Principal of Natabua High School Virendra Sharma is recommending that English should not be used to determine that a student passes his or her Year 12 or 13 exams because not all students can be English-oriented
While making his submission during the public consultation on the review of the Education Act 1966 at Natabua High School Hall, Sharma says on one hand they are promoting students to showcase their talent and on the other, they are still gauging the students' pass in Year 12 and Year 13 if they pass English or not.
He asked how is this fair because some of his Year 12 and 13 students are categorised as failures for not passing English.
The Principal suggested that English should not be counted but a particular minimum mark should be put, such as 30 or 35, so that students leave Year 13 and Year 12 with a positive mindset that they have succeeded.
Sharma also suggested that schools should be mandated to have a quota for the cross-section of the community.
He says at Natabua, they cater for students from the poorest to the most disadvantaged, those who have failed, those who are sportingly talented, those who are academically talented, those who are in remote areas, those who are civil servants, and transfers.
He further says there are quite a number of schools which are doing selections in Year 9 based on academic merit only.
The Principal also revealed that meth is being sold and used in primary schools, and there is a need for teachers to be trained to counsel these students.
He says we must put more emphasis on the teacher's ability to control students' behaviour, and he thinks all teachers should be equipped with basic counselling before they graduate.
The public consultation of the review of the Education Act 1966 will continue on the 26th of this month in Sigatoka.
The team will be in Keiyasi Secondary School from 10am to 12pm, and they will move to Nahigatoka Village Hall from 2pm to 4pm.
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