Geraghty’s proposal

ABOUT fifteen years ago an elderly Fijian customer at the Lami Post Office who had not seen me, took my place at the head of the queue before suddenly realising that I was the next customer.

She turned to me and said ... “Oh dear, I’m terribly sorry, I didn’t mean to push in. I do apologise” and of course, I told her to go ahead — no problem. This lady was obviously one of those belonging to Professor Brij Lal’s day. There are very few left and how I wish they could be teaching English!

It is tragic that throughout the ages there have been voices raised for what is right that have been ignored, and incomprehensible that Dr Paul Geraghty has to tell us, yet again ... as I have written before in these columns (FT 6/1).

The point that he is making could not be clearer.

It is also tragic that it is our children who are being put at a disadvantage through no fault of their own and that disadvantage will affect the future of Fiji for the worse.

English is now the leading international spoken and written language, with the majority of nations posting notices in their own language and also in English.

So why is it that our teachers must teach in English when their job would be so much easier if the vernaculars were employed first?

English is a complicated and difficult language to learn. Using a basis of vernacular language the teacher’s explanations would be clearer and the pupils would understand and learn more quickly and enjoyably.

How long must Paul Geraghty campaign against pre-school English and promote a vernacular background before somebody will listen, hear, and understand how right he is? What is so difficult to understand about what he proposes? SUE CAUTY

Pacific Harbour