Jamaican teachers score big
even more head scratching against the COVID-19 backdrop.
“Most students did not want to turn on their camera so you were basically teaching a black screen. And again, it was a new experience for the students so some students didn’t want to actively participate in the learning experiencing. We as teachers were forced to adapt quickly.”
As an educator, Lynch added, she had to learn new ways of doing things to be impactful and effective.
“I had to do a lot of research online – talking to other colleagues, my friends in Jamaica and in other regions – trying to get strategies we can use to get students more engaged in the learning process and so forth. We had to be battling with getting students to quickly adapt to the new platform, getting parents to understand the new platform, making sure that students were logged in on time for classes,” she said.
Nonetheless, expectations were high as Lynch and her students had set out to give painstaking attention to the merit list.
“We had that goal. That was my expectation. I’ve had conversations with them about their readiness, their preparedness and our efforts. We have had a plan from year nine [grade nine] where we completed most, if not all of the SBAS (school based assessment), and we had targeted practice. The students were committed as well. They understood the charge and they, for the most part, worked assiduously in achieving this,” Lynch related.
“I told them that it was not impossible. Those students are brilliant. They are critical thinkers and they are independent learners. You just have to give them a task and instructions and they’ll get it done. I’m not going to say I expected all those regional placements, but I am not shocked about the names that appeared on the list. I am not surprised.”
And the feedback has been nothing short of heart-warming.
“The students were happy. The younger students, having seeing the videos and hearing about it in assemblies, they too believe now that they have a purpose and that they can make the list. The feedback from students in younger years is very positive. They are asking ‘Miss, how can we be a part of that?’ and the principal has been promoting this for the school to say we are doing great things.”
Mckenzie added: “The school believes it is a wonderful achievement, considering the challenges they have faced during the pandemic and the impact it had on teaching and learning. Both the teachers and the students’ efforts were lauded. There are many schools across the region so it would be a formidable task to place on the students to make the merit list, considering the impact of the pandemic. Most students were expected to do well, based on the great work they had done leading up to the exam, but making the merit list would have been a bonus or massive achievement.”
Meanwhile, Douglas described the experience as humbling and rewarding.
“I expected them to do well but their performance exceeded my expectations. This particular set of students was so committed and competitive, wanting to exceed the performance of the students in the previous year, so I did expect them all to receive grade one. But so many on the merit list? Oh my God, my heart was full!” she shared.
Students have expressed gratitude for the preparation, Douglas added, noting that there is constant recognition and congratulations for the teachers and students from both the school and at the national level.
“There’s a spotlight feature on the schools’ accomplishment on Cayman
Islands Government TV. Upcoming students are now motivated to emulate this performance and want to be included in early entry groups.”