Dear Editor,

As the saga of Hutton’s Education Unit and the Caribbean Examinations Council unfold, the real victims are the students, hence the appeal to the emotions of the public. Institutions like this boast registration with the Ministry of Education and this raises the question – does the ministry play a role in inspecting or monitoring their operations to ensure that certain basic standards are met?

What about disaster preparedness? Are fire and earthquake drills, etc, conducted, and do the students know what is expected of them should any of these things happen? Some of the buildings that house these institutions need equipment, basic cleaning and painting.

Ministry of Education inspectors need to pay surprise visits to some of these institutions and colleges. Sometimes some do not pay teachers and often change head and administrative staff frequently. Confusion reigns as there is lack of effective continuity and the students suffer the consequences silently.

Nancy Drew

St Catherine