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Maybe we should spilt the ISSA schools in two groups based on overall average grade of each school in CXC passes in it's top four subjects. Each group would have its own competition.
Cheating our children - Student-athletes allowed to compete despite failing grade
Published: Sunday | May 19, 2013 0 Comments
Raymond 'K.C.' Graham
Elaine Foster Allen
Lebert Halliman
George Forbes
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Gordon Williams, Sunday Gleaner WriterThe goal is to win. By any means necessary. That determination may be driving the shining reputation of Jamaica's high-school sports under a dark cloud of deception, where student-athletes are allowed to compete despite academic deficiencies which should disqualify them.
The probable system failure is not only being kept quiet by leadership of Jamaican institutions, according to sources, but in some cases encouraged.
The Government, meanwhile, insists schools are responsible for correcting it.
Included in the "flat-out corruption", as one coach labelled it, are allegations of student-athletes' grades being "fixed" and some allowed to do class work below their current grade level - all done to keep them eligible for competition.
While detailed statistical evidence to show precisely how far the alleged corruption has spread is difficult to obtain, those entrenched in the system admitted "hearing" about it for "years". Some watered down the allegations to "rumours". Nearly all chose silence when pressed, on the record, for names of student-athletes, coaches, administrators and schools involved.
Emerging from months of checks, however, is that the current system is leaking integrity. The question is how heavy.
Another coach called it "a huge can of worms", where student-athletes compete in major sports like football, cricket and track and field when they should not. Some are so academically inept, they struggle to read and write.
Learning disability
Multiple sources cited examples of Jamaican high-school athletes unable to fill out immigration/customs forms while travelling overseas to represent their institutions or country.
A few have been suspected of having a genuine learning disability, but some schools either ignore it or find ways to usher them through the educational system, sources claim.
While monitoring tools implemented help limit corrupt practices, including minimum standards for academic achievements and attendance, suspicions still swirl.
"I have heard about it," said Raymond 'K.C.' Graham, a track coach for 30 years, including stints at high schools.
"I don't know how true it is, but there must be something to this. There are some students who are going to remedial classes (in high school), but it's so strange, they are able to qualify in academics to compete.
"... I don't want to say it's a deliberate thing," added Graham. "... I think, in some cases there might be students, who are slow, may be given a test not as tough as normal students and they use that (grade to make them eligible to compete). But my concern is that, when they come to the normal term exam, monthly exam, these same students, they have to do the same exams. How do they qualify (to compete)?"
"It is alleged a lot of schools are involved in corruption," said Lebert Halliman, coach of Excelsior High's Manning Cup football team. "A lot of boys try to come to our institution, but they are so weak academically so we have to turn them away. But they have, before, and are now playing for other schools in the high-school competition."
The Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA), which governs high-school sports in Jamaica, is aware of corruption allegations. However, according to ISSA's Competitions Officer George Forbes, tangible proof of a widespread problem has not surfaced.
"I have heard the rumours," Forbes said. "We have no empirical evidence to back up that rumour. What we can tell you is that we at ISSA - ISSA is basically an association of principals - that we would trust the integrity of the principals to, as it were, affix their signature to whatever is put on their registration and eligibility forms to confirm that your children in your school for a sports programme have attained the grades that we say."
To qualify to compete, according to Forbes, students in first through fifth form must obtain a minimum 45 per cent grade in at least four subjects and attend no less than 80 per cent of their classes. Those in sixth form must have passed four CXC subjects, earning grades between one and three.
ISSA also conducts "random tests", Forbes said, "... eight or 10 schools per competition", such as schoolboy football, to ensure compliance. Boys and Girls' Champs teams are harder to monitor, since the track-and-field competition runs less than a week. Forbes said up to 10,000 students participate in each major sport, making it difficult to verify every registration.
"It's almost impossible for us to police so many students at a given date," he acknowledged.
Ineligible student-athletes may escape scrutiny.
"No, it's not a perfect system," said Michael Russell, coach of Kingston College's track team. "... I won't say rotten. I say it's more of lack of resources that is available at the administrators' disposal."
Addressing the problem
The Government has long heard of problems with high school student-athletes making required grades.
"This is not a new story," explained Elaine Foster Allen, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education. "There have been a number of stories on the treatment of student-athletes ... We've heard from time to time, either through the media, or through complaints, this is happening."
However, Foster Allen placed the responsibility of addressing the problem squarely on the institutions.
"The issue would not be a Ministry of Education issue," she said. "It would be a schools issue."
Foster Allen said the problem often stemmed from the transfer of student-athletes.
Those who did not do well enough in the GSAT examinations were moved to "so-called traditional (high) schools" because of their athletic talents. They struggle academically. But some schools fail to help beyond getting them eligible to compete.
"The administrators in schools, I would say, the teachers, the people in (the guilty) schools who are in charge ... they are letting down the kids," said Graham. "Because if they have confidence in them, they should let them know. They should call a spade a spade and don't let a guy think that he is bright when he is not bright and he can do something when he can't."
Sources claimed ineligible student-athletes are sometimes aided by a collaboration of school loyalists, including coaches, teachers, administrators and past students. One coach said he was warned by a school-board member never to speak publicly about other schools engaged in corruption, fearing that would stir "bad blood" between schools, including investigations into his own programme.
Teachers interviewed said they were occasionally alarmed by the poor academic proficiency of student-athletes. Some receiving passing marks elsewhere did so poorly in their class, the teachers struggle to imagine those students legitimately passing other courses needed to stay eligible for competition. One teacher suspected collusion in "fixing" or altering grades of student-athletes to keep them eligible for competition.
"I wouldn't want to publicly accuse anyone," said the teacher who did not wish to be identified, "but other teachers and the coach must know the student is failing badly."
The problem has been noticed elsewhere.
"Yes, we've seen high-school youngsters who have participated in the programme who academically are challenged in terms of even basic reading and comprehension," said Roy Simpson, who has managed national football teams including high-school players.
Academic assistance
The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) provides academic assistance for young players. However, Onaje Bell, who has tutored national representatives, believes some have been promoted to grades they're unfit for.
"What I know for a fact, is that the kids are operating at a much lower level than they are placed and you do wonder how they got there in the first place," Bell said.
ISSA has appealed for information proving corruption and vows to investigate viable leads.
"... Give me some name, give me something," said Forbes, "... We at ISSA have the authority to go into any school and ask for the particular grade to verify it."
This story isn't aimed at embarrassing student-athletes, as most children under Jamaican law are dependent on guidance from parents and schools. So their names and the institutions they represent are not mentioned.
Allowing academically unqualified students to compete, however, is a not-so-secret black eye on Jamaica's high-school sports, which have produced some of the world's greatest athletes and academics. It could get worse. Lucrative sponsorship deals intensify schools' craving to succeed. But ignoring the plight of student-athletes weak in academics may be causing serious damage.
"... These same students, when it comes at the end of their five years in high school, they can't go to a university," explained Graham, current director of sports at Mico University College. "... So it's not fair to the kids."
"What I know is we need to protect our youngsters," said Russell, "... that, we all have to understand."
However, some cautioned against rushed claims of a widespread problem.
"What I would not want to do is broad-brush it," said Simpson.
Others demanded proof of corruption before accusations.
"Somebody would have to come with the data, show me the facts," said Maurice Wilson, who coached Holmwood Technical to 2013 Girls' Champs victory.
"... I've heard, from many years now, that things like those have happened, but I think a system is in place to deal with that and the system is a coherent system ... ."
Those guilty of ISSA's eligibility rules violations are subject to penalties. Academic issues barred at least two prominent athletes from competing at Champs 2013.
Yet, administrators may not be in total control. Alumni, often financial backers, impose powerful influence on high-school sports programmes, sometimes enabling corruption.
"... Some schools, whether you believe it or not, are controlled by past students," explained Graham. "They play a very significant role and funding, in certain areas. If (schools) don't accede to these things they do not get funding.
"So they apply pressure, and, because of the pressure, the kids suffer in the end."
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