By S.B.Williams
I will start by stating that there is no perfect system anywhere. Yet imperfect systems have continued to move institutions and nations forward.These areas of imperfections serve as stimuli for research and innovation.
Therefore I feel it will be unjust and unfair to condemn an existing system without examining areas that have positively contributed to an institution or a nation.
When,because of political or other differences, there is wholesale condemnation of a system,a valuable element of the old system is ignored and lost.
Fortunately,the 6-3-3-4 did not condemn the 6-3-4-4- system as a whole but only concentrated its focus on the third stage of the system which is the SSS 3.By adding one year it was believed that this would minimize the mass failures at WASSCE.But this is where Professor Kpamanja and his team failed.They failed to examine the root causes and concentrated only on the syllabus and the time taken to cover the syllabus of SSS 3.
At this point I wish to congratulate His Excellency the President for reverting the 6-3-4-4- to its original 6-3-3-4 structure.No doubt he is guided by both hindsight and foresight in his unshakable determination to lead Sierra Leone to Olympian heights and her former glory.
THE 6-3-3-4 AND ITS LEVELS
THE SILENT YEARS (OR NURSERY/PRE SCHOOLS)
The silent years refer to the inability of the Ministry of Education to develop a foundational programme for the 3-5 year old children for entry into Class 1 (One),(the first year of the primary School programme of 6 years duration).
The Nursery School years (3-5 years) is the time the child is most receptive to instruction.At this stage children learn a lot of basic concepts and ideas in what we call the “Play way in Education.”
During the 3 years of Nursery Education, children learn to speak and write simple phrases and sentences, numbers and their operations and develop confidence in associating with others of their age group.
In this regard I wish to commend the proprietors/proprietresses for establishing Nursery Schools through their personal initiatives and resources. These schools need recognition,Government support and the creation and monitoring of a unified syllabus.
I am informed that the present Government is preparing to give adequate and meaningful support to Nursery Schools for their development and maintenance.
I want to suggest that all children attend Nursery schools as a requirement for entering Class 1 (One).This will make it possible for the children to proceed to Class1 (One) at the same foundational level.
THE NATIONAL PRIMARY SCHOOL EXAMINATION AND ITS RELEVANCE
Years ago I questioned the relevance of the N.P.S.E. as a means of entering the Secondary School system.This brings us to the question “Does the N.P.S.E. measure what is supposed to measure?”If it does,then the purpose of the examination is defeated.
What do I suggest? I suggest that one- day N.P.S.E. Examination does not sufficiently test the ability of the student.The examination should include coverage of other subjects to give opportunity to children with different aptitude.My main reason for suggesting this is what many students with high grades in the N.P.S.E. do not perform well as expected in J.S.S.1(One). Therefore I suggest 3 days for the N.P.S.E. either consecutive or spaced to give better coverage.
THE PRIMARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM OF 6 YEARS DURATION
It is my opinion that the 6 year Primary School course is too long without a mid way National Examination to test their ability in all Primary School subjects. This may be conducted in either Class 3 or Class 4.This will encourage pupils to take their studies seriously.
PROMOTION BY CLASS MEAN
Promotion by class mean is another way of mass promotion.It is like bringing down the good students to the level of the bad ones.It is counter productive.
I know of schools that have reverted to the minimum 50% average.This is a step in the right direction.In the human performance arena everybody performs best at his or her own level.
If a pupil is unable to fulfill academic requirements,there are many other options to embrace.Promotion by class mean provides a platform for ‘bad’ pupils to float through the academic arena and crash –land at the end.
THE PSYCHOMOTOR AND AFFECTIVE
The 6-3-3-4 system has the Psychomotor and Affective as part of the evaluation requirements.I believe that teachers don’t have time to evaluate students at the level of Psychomotor and Affective. Parents and Guardians are more or less concerned with the cognitive results which form the basis of promotion.
Appraisal of the System
Notwithstanding my observations stated above,the 6-3-3-4 system is a well structured system that generally meets the need for modern education. Paramount in the system is the dichotomy provided by the Polytechnic and Academic Higher Education Systems.
SOME FACTORS MILITATING AGAINST THE 6-3-3-4 SYSTEM
1.WORDLY ATTRACTIONS:
a)Telephone and Mobile Phones.Most pupils spend many hours watching phonographic films and as a result have little or no time for studies.Parents allow them to waste those precious hours with no knowledge or concern about the negative impacts.
- b) Night Clubs: Many students who are supposed to study are found in or around night clubs where they carry out immoral practices.Many who are supposed to be in boarding homes at night are found in the night clubs.Maybe Government will find a way to control or minimize this evil.
PAYMENT FOR GRADES
Many years ago,a teacher with H.T.C. changed nearly all the grades for money and presented them to the examination committee of my school.At a glance one could see that all the grades were changed.I knew that with mature females,the payment was in kind (or flesh). I advised the principal to terminate his services and he did.
Another instance was when a girl who was known for poor performance was given a grade of over 70% in Geography.All other grades were far below 60%.This made the examination committee suspicious and so her Geography script was examined.We found out that she could not even answer one question completely.
Such teachers still exist in the system and are a woeful disgrace to the school, the ministry and the parents who are deceived by the teacher they trust.
Finally,we must not forget that however good a system is,there are always agents of Satan who serve as detractors.But they will not succeed because the God we serve will not allow them.