Retention of high achievers

It is not an option, but an imperative dictated by the circumstances of the prevailing drought of good student learning outcomes. In an education system where academic excellence is an exception rather than the norm, retention and differentiated treatment of highly gifted teachers and education managers should be a top priority, ahead of other considerations.

Appreciating talent in a system plagued by a host of crippling problems should be an automatic and natural response to rare and sporadic signs of excellence. It should be borne in mind that the prevailing culture of underachievement cannot simply evaporate on its own without the adoption of a serious problem-solving culture. Of course, fixing problems cannot be an overnight event but rather a long, protracted battle. But doing nothing is not an option.