Education is  the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life. Education is far more than what takes place in our learning institutions. Educating people involve teaching them the things that will enable them to make the best decisions possible and function successfully in society.

Society

It is very important for persons to understand citizen’s rights and responsibility, the justice system, financial matters as well as property rights. It is of utmost importance that people know their rights as well as their responsibilities.   The best way to protect someone’s rights is for that person to know what their rights are and what steps to take whenever any of their rights has been breached. This prevents persons being taken advantage of, as well as to avoid many conflicts. If we really care about protecting peoples’ right, this must be the start. Anything less is just platitude. It is important that people understand the difference between criminal justice and civil justice and the purpose that each serve. Many persons are not even aware that they can pursue civil action against anyone who have wrong them and instead think that the end of the criminal case is the end of the matter. When a person is charge criminally for a offence that is committed against an individual or the state, it is the state that will  bring the charge, try the case and  impose the penalty if the person is found guilty. The law allows for persons to seek civil damage whether the person is convicted or not, but so many victims are not even aware of this and never seek compensation from the person who had committed the offence. Persons need to be also aware that compensation can also be sought when they are wronged even if the case is not a criminal matter such as libel. During the FINSAC meltdown, it was surprising how many persons were  unaware that the possibility existed that a bank could fail and that they could lose their money.  It was quite common to hear persons saying “mi give them mi money fi save. How come them tek it len out?”. Many  persons  enter into various financial arrangement only to find out later that it is not what they thought it was and end up losing heavily. Education is just as important as regulations. Education helps persons to avoid  many of the loopholes and pitfalls that regulations are expected to protect them from. Sadly, too many persons do not understand the processes happening around them and in which they are involved. JAP will run an in-depth and extended campaign to educate the nation on these and other matters. For instance, persons need to know that whatever the government does is done on behalf of all of us and in our name. This includes the borrowing or allocation of money, the imprisonment of an individual or the hanging of a murderer. They also need to know that we bear the responsibility of all the government’s actions regardless of which government is in place. For this reason and the fact that we are all directly affected by decisions which the government takes, we all need to participate in the governance of the country. JAP will focus on the overall education of the nations’ citizens so as to enable persons to make the best decisions in order  to enable them to have the best standard of life possible. 

Schools
There are several factors which are common among the schools which are doing well and which we all aspire for our children to attend. These include a high level of discipline, motivated teachers, a high level of parental and in some cases past students involvement. The converse is true of the schools which are not doing well. A low level of discipline, demotivated  teachers, poor parental involvement and no past students association are usual features.  What has caused this breakdown in discipline in so many of our schools? It seems that the power has been removed from the teacher’s hands and put into the hands of the students. This has resulted in students openly challenging and cursing teachers and at times even harming them. Students need to be clear as to the rules and regulations of the institution which they attend and that it is a privilege and not a right to be there. They should be clear that failure to abide by the rules and regulations could see them being removed and place into another school. It’s now almost as if “don’t do anything to hurt the students’ feelings.”  Dedicated teachers are now totally frustrated as when they cannot maintain discipline in a class room, they cannot teach the students. Thousands of teachers who have given years of dedicated service are frustrated and are simply waiting  for their early retirement while some have just decided to call it quits. They feel that their back is against the wall and that they  cannot depend of the ministry for  support. Despite the low wages and in some cases poor working conditions, it is the high level of indiscipline which is the main factor driving many  teachers from the classrooms. This is not to suggest that teachers should be given the power to abuse any student. Students themselves are also suffering as a result of the widespread indiscipline in various ways. These include the frequent disruption of classes by unruly students, bullying and thefts. Some students comes from very difficult background and in many cases simply need a firm hand, some  caring words, and others some encouragement. Provisions must be made to protect the rights and best interest of all the children at all times. With the rampant indiscipline now plaguing  our schools,  the action has been to put  school resource officers in our schools, provide schools with metal detectors and encase them behind grill bars. The maintenance of discipline is now being ceded from teachers to resource officers. To restore discipline into our school, it is important  that students, parents and teachers be held accountable. Everyone needs to know clearly what is expected of them and be held accountable if and when they erred. The practice of reprimand and punishment have now been replaced with counseling and consultations. Each of these have it place in our schools and each should be used as needs be. A JAP government will give more power to run the school, back to the school boards, the principals, teachers and the parents through the Parent Teachers Association (PTA). Too many decisions concerning the running of the schools are being made at Heroes Circle who constantly meddle in the running of the schools. The duty of the Ministry of Education is to set and enforce guidelines under which all schools will operate. It is not their duty to micro-manage  aspect of the school’s operation. Things like the type of graduation ceremony,  for instance, should solely be the decision of the school board, the principal, teachers, students and parents. There is absolutely no need for the ministry to get involved. Parents need to attend PTA meetings where they can question the administration and receive information on the operations of the school. Too often those members who are present at PTA meetings have to sit and wait in the hope that a few more parents will turn up so as to form a quorum.  The absent parents are usually the ones who will then make an issue about decisions that were taken, at the point when they are being implemented. JAP will implement measures to raise the moral of teachers and restore discipline in our schools, look out for the welfare of students and achieve greater parental involvement. A special department will be set up within the ministry to locate delinquent parents and issue summonses for them to attend  meetings at the school when required. The law will be amended as necessary for extremely delinquent parents to be issued summonses to attend court. The schools will no longer have to throw up their hands in despair.
A fifteen minutes morning break for students will be implemented in all schools which are not operating on a shift system. At present most schools only give a forty minutes lunch break for the duration of the day. This time is not enough to purchase and consume lunch, then rush to the bathrooms which have to be shared among the hundreds of students. This morning break is very important to allow for socialization and the building of friendships between the students, the use of bathroom as well as to serve as a mental break. We will also seek to extend the lunch break to an hour. Art, music and drama are very important in developing character and building the self confidence of adolescents and they will play a very important part in the school curriculum.  Principals and school boards along with the teachers and parents will be given more powers and flexibility to run their schools in the best interest of the students and all parties concern. This will, of course, be within the guidelines set down by the ministry.