Jefferton Meek Committed to educating nation's youth

Orantes Moore, Gleaner Writer

Jefferton Meek is the acting vice-principal of Tacky High School in Gayle, St Mary. He has worked as a teacher in the parish for more than two, decades.

After completing his studies in 1992, Meek secured posts in the private and public sectors but eventually opted for a career in education.

He told Rural Xpress: "I got into teaching because of my mother, who was an all-age school teacher for 40-odd years. She had nine children, and six of us, at some point, went into the classroom to teach, so it's almost like a family tradition.

"At present, there are two of us in education. My brother is a regional officer for the Jamaica Teachers' Association in St Mary."

According to the most recent list of Jamaican high school rankings, which measures the percentage of grade 11 students who attained at least five exam passes (including English and or maths), Tacky is the second-poorest-performing high school in the parish and one of the worst in the country.

Meek, however, believes the assessment, published by education think tank Educate Jamaica, ignores the disadvantages his students and faculty face.

The 46-year-old educator said: "When you receive a GSAT listing for 240 students and 170 of them average below 30 per cent in GSAT exams such as maths, English, and integrated studies, it brings into question the level at which the students are functioning when they arrive from primary school.

"When the management has to employ three or four reading specialists and institute a reading programme for students, some of whom are 'at risk', then you know we have a challenge.

"Nonetheless, we have students who get eight CXCs," he added. "In fact, last year, out of the 139 students who entered for the CSEC exam, around 60 per cent got three or more subjects. So we are trying to improve standards and work with what the Ministry [of Education] sends us. It's challenging, but it has to be done."

Meek was born in Brainerd, St Mary, and has taught at Tacky High since 1996. He is passionate about the school and his profession but acknowledges the limitations of both.

He said: "When there is a classroom with 50 kids, you tell me, are we in the best position to educate those children? Are we really providing the best for them?

"The child comes to school at 7 a.m. and goes home at 12 noon. Their day is already cut short and to compound that, they have to run around and jostle with each other for desks and chairs.

"On top of that, they are piled into a classroom that was probably built to house 35 children. I wonder if the statistics you mentioned take into consideration the conditions under which these students work."

In an effort to deliver a better standard of education, the school offers grade 10 students courses in a wide variety of vocational subjects including construction, building technology, mechanical technology, home management, food and nutrition, and cosmetology.

"The gifted students who are able to function at CXC level, we take them there," said Meek. "But we also have to find ways of educating those who are not going to get six CXCs. We have to make them skilled and armed with two or three vocational subjects so they can function in society."

Meek believes the level of commitment shown by the school's teachers is exceptional and hopes that in the near future, they will be rewarded with more space and more resources.

He said: "I'd love for the Ministry of Education to build some classrooms and take us off the shift system so we can have a full day to educate our students.

"This would give us smaller class sizes, greater space, and an environment that is more conducive to learning. That would go a far way in improving the standard of this institution."

rural@gleanerjm.com