Yet the business of teaching should go forward because education by its very nature cannot stop. And to their credit, teachers do cover for new recruits not yet in post. The new academic season traditionally kicks off with the joy and pride of receiving freshers. The process takes the character of an induction, which entails in the main equipping new students with skills and knowledge that would enable them acclimatise to the new learning institution. Also the new term presents an opportunity to consolidate the gains that returning students made in their previous learning encounters while also offering a chance to close gaps identified. Clearly a new year is supposed to herald a new dawn. But how many schools take advantage of the New Year to move into novel and unchartered territory?
Sadly many schools remain rooted in long established traditions handed down from one generation to the other. Schools have cultures, which they love so dearly. Keeping culture cannot be a bad thing as long as it is not done to the detriment of adopting new strategies. But the reality is that, sadly, culture has been permitted to eat strategy and in the process it is allowed to stifle opportunities to improve student outcomes.
