Don't blame the children ... blame the school system and teachers

<a href=wwwvheadline.com>Venezuela Electronic News Posted: Tuesday, March 25, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Following a report on school deserters, El Nacional social affairs journalist, Mireya Tabuas confirms that 414,339 Venezuelan children and teenagers had to repeat the school year (2001-2002) after failing exams ... approximately 1 in 3 of these drop out of school for the same reason. 

The repeat figure is 8% more than in 2000-2001. 

1st grade is the biggest casualty area with 81,331 students repeating (12.2%), followed by 7th grade with 77,800 repeaters (13.7%). 

• Experts say the government must solve the problem of students repeating the year because many parents prefer to take them out of school. 

 Cultural & Educational Research Center analyst, Mariano Herrera insists that repeat students are a sign that the school is at fault and not the pupils. "It must be become a top priority for the State to solve."

Although it seems to a taboo to critique teachers and trade union practices, little is said about poor teaching methods.  "The teacher must know and start using alternative techniques to attend the more vulnerable sectors ... unfortunately that is not taught in our universities."

Although it seems to have become a taboo to critique teachers and trade union practices, little is said about poor teaching methods.  "The teacher must know and start using alternative techniques to attend the more vulnerable sectors ... unfortunately that is not taught in our universities."