Rekindling the fire of learning
As we continue into the new school term, something Permanent Secretary for Education, Selina Kuruleca, said should be raised now. It deserves attention.
Her message is aimed at encouraging parents and guardians to take ownership of their children’s education.
In the face of that line of thinking, we reflect on how many parents and guardians are actually falling back on mobile phones as a means to keep their children occupied.
They gift their young children mobile phones, fill them up with data, and leave them to surf the net! There are many more issues intertwined with this, and they range from unchecked website visits, to developing a habit that can be quite frustrating in the long run as some children become so attached to their phones.
It is the easy way out for many parents and guardians when they want to find some time for themselves. And that is a danger now for our young charges.
This dependence affects many of our children, affects their potential, replaces curiosity with flickering screens, and dims the fire of learning.
Ms Kuruleca’s emphasis on parental involvement, in setting goals, planning schedules, and collaborating with teachers, should remind us that education can blossom in the right environment.
However, as the first teachers, parents and guardians must rekindle the joy of learning, ignite curiosity, and become partners in a shared journey.
The responsibility doesn’t lie solely with parents though.
Ms Kuruleca challenges teachers to “raise the bar”, to be not just instructors, but architects of excitement. The classroom, often seen as a duty, must become a laboratory of curiosity.
Raising the bar requires building the foundation though. To this end, the Government’s support is commendable. But beyond financial support, there must be a focus also on ensuring we have qualified, and inspired teachers.
Ms Kuruleca emphasises the importance of preparations the night before school, including packing school bags, uniforms, and personal hygiene. She says the Government has provided various forms of support, including education grants, textbooks, and bus fare subsidies.
It is encouraging to know that Ms Kuruleca’s vision of an “exciting year” also includes the reintroduction of art, music, and craft into the curriculum. These subjects are catalysts for imagination, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
They nurture an appreciation for beauty, cultivate emotional intelligence, and offer outlets for individual expression.
We say parents must become mentors, teachers must spark curiosity, and the system must support both. Let’s work together to truly raise the bar and create a generation that is educated and inspired.