Dear Editor,

I am truly shocked that our society is surprised by the recent low passes in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams.

Last year, when the Dunce brand of schoolbags made its debut, the nation was split between those who saw the absurdity and those who, astonishingly, saw something worth defending. Even a well-known human rights organisation jumped in, wagging a finger at principals who dared to say, “Not on my watch!”

But let’s be real for a moment. At the time, it was truly crazy to consider what we’d come to — arguing over whether children should be allowed to parade around with a badge of foolishness on their backs. It’s as if we’re so intent on being progressive that we’ve forgotten the basics — like not celebrating ignorance.

Sure, there may be deeper issues contributing to poor academic performance — underfunded schools, lack of resources, and so on. But can we also admit that embracing a culture in which the word “Dunce” is worn as a badge of honour isn’t exactly helping our youth excel. If we continue down this path, we’ll soon find ourselves asking why our CSEC and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) results are in the gutter, while conveniently ignoring the fact that we’ve been nurturing a culture that laughs in the face of learning. Never mind, we are already here.

Let’s get one thing straight: Not everything deserves a spirited defence, especially not when it flies in the face of common sense. The 2024 CSEC results were terrible, but if we are surprised by this as a nation, we lack the mental fortitude that properly links input and results.

We can’t afford to sow seeds of foolishness and then act surprised when the harvest is one of failure. As Galatians 6:7 wisely reminds us: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”

It’s time to stop making excuses for nonsense and start holding our society — and ourselves — to a higher standard.

Nahor T

nahor4321@gmail.com