Comments on: Is our education system hindering IT innovation in the region?

By: mmarius

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:05:03 +0000

By: Nipha

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:40:27 +0000

hi Ya,
Interesting article. having taught the subject both here in and in the UK and also worked for CXC I feel the need to comment. While in UK their system is to blame for the shortfall in the Caribbean I think the syllabus is fairly balanced. However as you both have highlighted English and mathematics are key components to substantial success in the subject. These key components are lacking.
Another issue that we need to identify is the ability (or lack thereof) of the teachers of these subjects.
The use of Pascal as an introductory subject while we agree is outdated does establish the basics for programming. if you have this basic foundation you a more likely to be able to manage the more modern ones.
Oh dear me who wrote this article. It is very interesting and deep for me. I like it.

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By: mmarius

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 22:19:07 +0000

In reply to Stuart King.

Hi Stuart,

Thanks for the comment. While I think have some means of assessing performance is important, I am truly worried about the effect of memorization and the pressure to pass exams…

The importance of Maths and English really cannot be overstated. Actually, the penny fell for me a few day ago when I fully realised that in this day and age, children might no longer need to learn how to write (physically) – it is perhaps more valuable for them to know their way around a keyboard… Scary!!

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By: Stuart King

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 22:05:05 +0000

Before I comment on the question of whether our education system is hindering IT innovation in the region, let me take this opportunity to complain (ok, rant) about the CSEC IT course.

I have never taken this course myself (thank goodness) but judging from the study guides that are published in the newspapers, this course requires far too much memorization of useless, outdated, and sometimes misleading or just incorrect, information. I am worried that all of this memorization will unnecessarily turn off students, and give them a bad wrong impression of the subject.

Anyway, to get back to the question at hand. I would say that the subject that best prepares students for success in IT (and success in programming) is English. Another important subject would be Mathematics, but English is so much more important. So in my opinion, critical to the promotion of IT innovation in the region, is a literate and numerate workforce (entrepreneurial training probably wouldn’t hurt either).

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