JG - Some roots of birth registration pains
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Gleaner
Some roots of birth registration pains
published: Sunday October 22, 2006
THE EDITOR, Sir:
Some time ago, in a discussion with a mother who had just given birth, it was discovered that she had a 15-year-old child who had never been registered. The many disadvantages were pointed out and she was encouraged to correct the matter immediately. In a chance meeting several months later, she was asked about the matter and replied that she had registered them - the 15-year-old and the infant - as twins. Then, tapping the side of her head with her forefinger, the way people do when they want you to know that they are brilliant, she added,
"Simple."
Recently, I visited a certain college during orientation and heard bawling coming from the administrative offices. It turned out that this freshman was just discovering that her parents, who had been parading as 'Mr. and Mrs.' for 23 years, were never married. She was mortified.
Quite often, particularly at the beginning of the summer holidays, I am visited by persons, mainly graduates from high schools, who are seeking my help to fill out standard forms issued by some of our institutions. They find some of the 'big' words like 'marital status' 'mailing' address and 'maiden' name particularly troublesome.
Now I hold no brief for Dr. Holness at the RGD and have no way of knowing if there are systemic weakness there, but I feel quite certain that those matters related earlier, have a lot to do with the complaints levelled on that agency.
When I was going to school, these lessons were dealt with during the first year of high school. But these are modern times and curricula are packed with more important themes.
Perhaps Dr. Holness needs to squeeze an eighth day into each week and spend it in the school system.
I am, etc.,
GLENN TUCKER
Stony Hill
Jamaica Gleaner
Some roots of birth registration pains
published: Sunday October 22, 2006
THE EDITOR, Sir:
Some time ago, in a discussion with a mother who had just given birth, it was discovered that she had a 15-year-old child who had never been registered. The many disadvantages were pointed out and she was encouraged to correct the matter immediately. In a chance meeting several months later, she was asked about the matter and replied that she had registered them - the 15-year-old and the infant - as twins. Then, tapping the side of her head with her forefinger, the way people do when they want you to know that they are brilliant, she added,
"Simple."
Recently, I visited a certain college during orientation and heard bawling coming from the administrative offices. It turned out that this freshman was just discovering that her parents, who had been parading as 'Mr. and Mrs.' for 23 years, were never married. She was mortified.
Quite often, particularly at the beginning of the summer holidays, I am visited by persons, mainly graduates from high schools, who are seeking my help to fill out standard forms issued by some of our institutions. They find some of the 'big' words like 'marital status' 'mailing' address and 'maiden' name particularly troublesome.
Now I hold no brief for Dr. Holness at the RGD and have no way of knowing if there are systemic weakness there, but I feel quite certain that those matters related earlier, have a lot to do with the complaints levelled on that agency.
When I was going to school, these lessons were dealt with during the first year of high school. But these are modern times and curricula are packed with more important themes.
Perhaps Dr. Holness needs to squeeze an eighth day into each week and spend it in the school system.
I am, etc.,
GLENN TUCKER
Stony Hill
posted by Consul-At-Arms at 12:07 AM
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