A LAUTOKA parent has called on the Ministry of Education to immediately reintroduce the repeat policy.
In her contribution to the Lautoka consultations on the review of the Education Act this week, Martha Lockwood said she was worried about her child’s academic performance under the current system.
“I have two sons. The older one understands what he needs to do to perform well,” she said. “He knows the value of studying and he listens when we have to discipline him, and he understands why we are doing it. But it is my younger son that I’m worried about because he knows that if he does not do well in school, he will still go on to the next level.”
Mrs Lockwood said she was concerned about the attitude some students had developed towards their school work.
“Sometimes he tells me, ‘mum, don’t worry, if I fail or not, I will still go to the next class’.
“I’m very worried about the way our children behave because they are losing the value of hardwork.
“They don’t know what it takes to get a promotion or a prize at the end of the year.
“So, if I see my child not doing well, I think it would be better that they repeat the class.”
A school principal, Isei Naqia said the no-repeat policy was evident in schools.
“I believe in the statement that whatever we sow, we will harvest,” he said.
“This is what we have sown in the last many years and in terms of the behaviour of our students.
“We are reaping the fruits of it because there are no boundaries now.
“For them, when they know it is free, and whether they pass or fail, they seem to be not committed to their work.”
Ba Provincial School principal Isei Naqia makes a submission during the Education Act Review consultations in Lautoka this week. Picture REPEKA NASIKO
