I have many practical solutions that can work in which I could share with you. But unfortunately this website only allows its readers 3000 characters.

It's time for Bahamians to cut ties with antiquated ideals, ideas, and practices of successive governments! We the people must hand select our future leaders! Men and women who are honest, committed, and possess know-how in order to turn our school system around. And we the parents must do our part aswell.

Any solution to the public school system is complex, to say the least.
First of all, because of an illegal immigration crisis, the school system is over populated. To my surprise, this is a problem that Minister Fred Mitchell is trying to combat amidst strong opposition! Children belonging to illegal parents must not be allowed to burden the school system any longer! Our national treasury cannot sustain Haiti and its also impeding the learning curb of Bahamian students! Secondly, I suggest that the education curriculum be substantially modified to meet the changing demands of the world. These changes should occur mainly between grade's 6 - 12. From grades K - 5 schools should use the Harcourt curriculum which has proven successful at initiating basic reading, comprehension, and arithmetic skills. With a decrease in the school's populace, a good academic foundation can be reasonably established.
Students who are in middle school (grades 6-8) junior high school (grades 9-10) and high school (grades 11-12) should be conducting preliminary academic coarse-work consistent with the global standard of education. Whether its the GCE examination for students attempting to study in London, Canada, or the Caribbean...or whether it's the ACT examination for students attempting to study in the United States, my argument is simply this... at least 65% of our students graduating high school should be capable of passing global standardized test! This should be the goal of our education system! Simply because this is the GLOBAL standard! In other words, 1+1= 2 no matter where you are in the world! Knowledge and scientific law are not contingent upon our global positioning. It remains consistent no matter where you are on the planet. So why isn't the Bahamas operating under the global standard?? Especially when most of what we consume on a daily basis is manufactured using scientific (chemical & physical) laws and principles! Although it may be years from now, we also need a local Bahamian University (graduate school included) operating under the global standard designed to initiate the interest of our brightest minds, while conducting knowledge and testing that will propel the Bahamas into the 21st century.
As I work throughout various hospitals, I realize that much of the hardware including diagnostic machines, chemical reagents, software, and various forms of medications can be synthesized right here in the Bahamas if we import only the raw products. This would not only create a job market, but also cut spending. But the problem resides in the fact that science and technology are both complex areas of study, and the foundation for such has not being established by either government nor the people. It really vexes me to hear the Ministry of Education attach "science and technology" to their title...especially since the government cannot boast of one publicly funded government scientist!! Not a damn one!!

You're right.

No disrespect..... but that is not a good idea.

First of all, the options that you've mentioned don't even begin to encompass the diverse interest that contemporary students may have. What happens to students who aren't interested in any of the above mentioned careers? We have trained professionals in these areas already who can't find consistent employment. Second of all... seven high schools wont be capable of accommodating such a large concentration of students. Many of those schools require extensive renovations as it is. Thirdly, and more importantly..... what you are suggesting are called Vocational Schools. They are meant for students who have acquired the preliminary and fundamental academic requirements needed to continue their education. A fundamental education begins in kindergarten and ends in grade's 11 or 12. During these years, students acquire the basic academic and social skills needed to compete and survive in the world.

What you are suggesting is that we send our students to Vocational Institutes before they have successfully completed a course in basic education. I don't think that would work very well for our students. Students need to master the basics if they're going to be successful in the real world.

In the past, people have often been quick to criticize teachers for our failing students. Every time something went wrong in the school system, fingers were pointed at the teachers.

Now (thanks to this incident) readers can get a glimpse into the daily obstacles faced by our educators.
In the Bahamas teachers are expected to carry out the "energy consuming" task of educating and grading thousands of our students. In the midst of these duties, they're contested by rude, ill mannered, disruptive children, stemming from dysfunctional homes. As a result, more time is spent disciplining and pacifying rather than learning and testing.
The average teacher is now expected to grade and educated 34+ students per day! Can you imagine trying to accomplish this task amongst such an unruly bunch of children? This is savagery at its best (students fighting and biting like wild dogs).

While Im sure that there are some teaches out there that don't quite fit the mold; I think that we don't give our teaches enough credit sometimes.
The parents of these children (especially the fathers) need a swift kick in their back-side for failing to nurture these children in the ways of the Lord!! And the government also needs a swift kick in their hip for not promoting education and enhancing the rewards associated with the pursuit of knowledge! And then they go out and outsource mega billion dollar contracts with foreigners because they claim that Bahamians are unqualified! The government of the Bahamas has mentally enslaved Bahamians and Bahamians won't wake up!!
We're too busy dancing in the streets.

I usually agree with most of what you express in your post. You are one of a few persons that actually write anything with substance or sense on this website.

However, I think that some of your argument should be reassessed. A decent education is available to all students residing in the Bahamas if they want it! We live in an age where knowledge is at our fingertips. If someone wants an education, all that person need do is pick up a book and study its contents! The problem is...... our students are not interested in education! And the MAIN reason is because the value of a good education is not taught, or enforced in the HOMES! The HOMES are the problem!!! Here in the Bahamas we've got a perpetual cycle of bad parenting, bad decision making, and poor morals being exercised.
Young woman continue to have children that they know they can't nurture nor support.... so they pass their burden on to the state! The HOMES have become the breeding ground for much of our social ills! Parents are not teaching their children social skills or conflict resolution skills!! All they preach is the pursuit of money, but are not teaching their children how to exercise their brains to achieve personal success.
While both governments must shoulder their portion of blame, so must the citizens of the Bahamas. You cannot operate a dis functional home and then place the backlash on the government!

I am by no means attempting to vindicate the government! I could actually write a book on their colossal failures and the massive negative affect that it's having on the citizens of the Bahamas.
But when a child or a group of students become disruptive and destructive especially at school...... that's a problem associated with the home!

(If poverty was responsible for crime... then that means that the generation before us including our grand parents and great grand parents should have been career criminals.... seeing that they were the epitome of poverty and hardship. But they weren't criminals! Because they had good morals, a sound home, and believed in hard work!)

Who's Dion Smith?
This man isn't even relevant.

Im sure that Rev. Stuart has good intentions. He's an honorable man who has always kept his morals and principles in tact (without question). I certainly wish that more Bahamians had a heart such as his.

However, his pursuit of engaging in the political arena is comical at best.
It's one thing to criticize our current state of affairs. But it's another to actually exercise and devise solutions to the moral and socio-economic crisis gripping the Bahamas.
I'm certain that Rev. Andrew Stuart has the ability to serve the Bahamas and the Bahamian people in another capacity. But being a front-line politician is not consistent with his nature nor personality.

Why is this news?
And why did the Tribune even bother posting this story?

Whenever a random act of violence does take place that deserves a public discussion forum, the Tribune usually disables the ability to comment on such items.
Yet, they post stories, such as the above, that have little bearing on anything and are of little or no consequence.

I agree to a certain extent.

But at the same time.... we can't place the lack of education and occupational skills solely on the government or school system. The underlying problem is that the majority of Bahamians don't value an education. Foreign students (especially Haitians) come to the Bahamas and take advantage of our educational system. Many of them are usually head-boy or head-girl..... acquire scholastic achievements..... and move on to become productive citizens.

I challenge you to talk with any educator, and they will assure you that most of our Bahamian boys and girls in the public school system have little interest in academics. Many of them are coming from broken homes where values, hardwork and honesty are absent.
An education system can only fasilitate the values taught at home. A teacher cannot force an individual to learn. They can only teach the student and point the student in the right direction. But its ultimately up to the pupil to enhance his/her knowledge.

Furthermore..... this is twentieth century. Education is any and everywhere. Its basically at everyone's finger tips. If someone wishes to educate himself, it's as easy as picking up a book and studying. Parents are the ones who must take a more proactive role in helping to educate their children. Jamaican and Haitian parents are doing it. Why aren't we???

Don't get me wrong..... the government does deserve some blame...... but not all. The Bahamian government has failed to keep our educated, bright minds in the Bahamas! They have failed at creating advanced employment opportunities for our educated citizens. As a result, many of them have taken their talents globally; while the Bahamas (in need of their skills) suffers the loss.

But it is ultimately up to the people of the Bahamas to change the Bahamas. Pointing fingers and blaming the government won't do any of us any good.