Let me apologise in advance for stepping on some political toes. I am, however, not the least bit apologetic about what I am going to say. I am sorry if anyone is offended, but I am certainly not sorry about expressing this view.

I am totally fed up with non-educators being appointed ministers of education. Would you take your favourite welder to manage your health care? Would you have your podiatrist defend you in a court of law?

So then why are we putting our education system in the hands of persons who do not have the knowledge, skills, attitudes and aptitude to do the job well? And before anyone defends the qualifications of any of the incompetent persons who have been given this portfolio, having some past teaching experience or passing through a tertiary education system does not make one an educator.

Clearly, our "esteemed" minister has not taken the time to learn even one basic principle of education leadership and management. The education system is ricocheting from crisis to crisis, while he plays the blame game in a pathetic attempt to disguise his failings.

I can go on and on about the need for strategic management; the building of professional learning communities; the need for a comprehensive plan for the effective incorporation of technology throughout the curriculum; the need for well-designed systems to treat with students whose behaviours pose a threat to themselves, their peers and their teachers, to name just a few.

What has this minister done, other than insult and alienate teachers? Let a real educator do the job.

D Awodele

via e-mail