TV and teachers

HAVING a free education channel on Fiji TV is no substitute at all for the facilitated learning that goes on in real relationship time between students and teachers; even outside the classroom. This is key to facilitate learning, engaged minds.

All students learning has varied needs: different learning styles, and needs to be pitched correctly for their specific needs. This can not be matched when students have the passive TV option.

Research proves that watching screens for any length of time cannot stimulate the brain at all. And can be detrimental. It is how to kill brain activity and stimulus actually. It’s a passive activity that does not require huge amount of engagement or thinking.

We educators need to be engaged with students’ face to face, and in relationship with them, to facilitate their lifelong learning.

It’s from this that students are able to facilitate their own interests and quest for learning: in a context of mutual relationship developed between students, other learners at various stages, with their parents, and with teachers.

Please Fiji Government, put any monetary support into our schools and directly to our students’ curriculum needs and resources, rather than starting an unmotivating, passive, unstimulating, brain cell killing exercise of watching TV.

No comparison at all to real human contact and relationship with engagement. We are not robots; but human beings.

Narube is so very right. Give money directly to our people: in this particular case — to students and teachers and schools - who need to re-engage as soon as possible. Please don’t roll out another nonsense committee, or group or program, which do not impress. All these things reveal is that ‘posers’ are unable to see beyond their glaring egos how foolish they truly appear when everyone is struggling so much.

Power, money and impetus to the schools, to stimulate Fiji’s future minds.

JEAN HELAN HATCH Nabua, Suva