Education Minister Andrew Holness is again showing that he does not understand the relationship between the GSAT, traditional and non-traditional secondary schools, high-performing, mediocre and under-performing schools.

The minister is very wrong when he describes the GSAT as a meritocracy. The meritocracy lies in the philosophical and cultural underpinnings of our education system and not in the GSAT itself. The GSAT is simply a tool that is used to perpetuate the meritocracy. The legitimate issue with the GSAT is whether it is a sound and valid testing instrument relative to the targeted age cohort.

Let's fix the GSAT flaws and not throw out the baby with the bath water. Regardless of the placement strategy, we should continue to assess students to determine placement within a given school. Zone school principals would then become responsible for placing students in classes based on an agreed-on differentiation placement policy.

What is for sure is that rationalisation of the placement system based primarily on geography is on the horizon. Jamaicans (including many educators) who believe in sustaining the meritocracy will be fighting tooth and nail to prevent disrupting the 'two-Jamaica' syndrome Holness claims to be against. The minister needs to slow down and optimise his chances of making sound decisions as he attempts to invoke meaningful change.

I am, etc.,

Dr RICHARD

KITSON-WALTERS

kittywally@comcast.net

Baltimore, Maryland