Now the writing is on the wall that a new sheriff in town is putting a high premium on addressing, with a sense of urgency and passion, the major roadblocks that have been inhibiting the provision of quality and relevant education in public schools. Getting the basics right encompasses ensuring adequate provision of teaching facilities and giving the teachers the necessary tools to perform their teaching functions.
The refurbishment programme should be conducted with military precision. Mission failure is not an option. To be done with speed and efficiency, procurement processes should be decentralised to regions to avoid a centralised process, which is often a long-winded and protracted undertaking. Working in dilapidated buildings has been a depressing and demoralising experience. The face-lifting project, expected to begin next year, should excite and challenge all classroom practitioners and education managers as this is intended to restore the morale and dignity of the noble profession while enhancing opportunities to achieve improved student learning outcomes.
