Highlands should be celebrated

From Lorraine Fiander-Hill

I REFER to your report (JEP, 29 July) in which Senator Philip Ozouf is reported to say that students are arriving at Highlands College without the reading and writing skills that should have been learned at secondary school.

I would agree. Secondary school teachers often have an exceptionally difficult job, and some students do not thrive in that environment. Thank goodness those students have another opportunity at Highlands.

I was therefore dismayed to see that the Highlands budget was being cut, yet again, even though more resources are needed to teach students who have come through a whole compulsory education system without managing to achieve basic skills. This needs more funding, not less, if we are to achieve the well-educated, literate and numerate workforce that we need.

As a previous part-time and then full-time student of the college, the parent of a recent college student and a former college lecturer, I know that one of the many things that Highlands does very well is reach the students who have not necessarily had a positive experience in compulsory education.

Sometimes it takes maturity or a different environment to achieve academically what was previously out of reach for some young people. Sometimes it may take a different course, teaching method or peer group.

Whatever the combination is, there is no doubt that every year students leave Highlands College having achieved far more than they thought possible. Many students also go on to university from Highlands.

There should never be any doubt in anyone’s mind that Highlands is an important part of the Island’s educational and training provision, as it helps people to reach their potential, enabling them to become a useful part of our economy. That needs investment. Rather that treating it or seeing it as ‘a poor cousin’, Highlands should be celebrated and rewarded.

Lujonrie,

Langley Avenue,

St Saviour.