MCSS wants feeding program in public schools

The General Superintendent of the Monrovia Consolidated Schools System or MCSS Mr. Benjamin Adolphus Jacob, has called for the reintroduction of feeding program at public schools across the country.

Mr. Jacobs says, “If our children will have the opportunity to eat something before entering in their various classes, such will help to release some burdens from the heads of families.”

He says once a child knows that he or she supposed to eat a piece of bread and drink a cup of [tea] they will go to school in time. The MCSS boss told state radio ELBC on Monday, 5 June the essence of the feeding program is to create an environment where students can have their minds steady while in class, saying “No one can learn on empty stomach. I strongly believe that when this happens in our public schools, you will find children putting in more time to study their lessons instead doing different things.”

“If a child goes to school on empty stomach, how do you expect that child to listen to what the teacher has to offer? You wouldn’t get anything from that child, because his entire mind will be different simply because he has not eaten, and this is why we who have the expertise in this matter must do something that will improve the learning ability of our school going children other than that, we will continue to encounter set back from students.”

Meanwhile, Superintendent Jacob has frowned at teachers administering make-ups or secondary tests to students, noting that the issue of students taking make-ups in no way help them to become somebody in the future, because our teachers are not taking into consideration that the future of this country relies on the youths.”

According to him, the essence of giving make-ups in schools should be when the child or students are unable to write a test due to sickness or any health related problems – that is when make-up comes in to replace the test they missed, and such must be approved by the school principal.

“There will be no make-up in any of our schools, because we don’t allow teachers giving make-up, and demanding money from students, because it will do them no good, and this is something that some students rely on to pass to the next class.”

Superintendent Jacob noted this is something that contributes to mass failure of students in public exams. Last year, the Plenary of the House of Representatives mandated the Committees on Education, Internal Affairs and Claims and Petition to probe allegations of fake academic credentials of the Superintendent of the Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS).

Plenary’s decision came in the wake of a petition from the Monrovia Consolidated School System Teachers Association, seeking the indulgence of the august body to investigate the academic credentials of Superintendent Adolphus Benjamin Jacobs during the 10th day sitting of the 4th Session on Thursday, February 12, 2015.

The House’s decision followed a petition by the Monrovia Consolidated School System Teachers Association (MCSSTA).

By Lewis S. Teh-Editing by Jonathan Browne