We are all emerging from the pandemic lockdowns with a desire to build a better future. There is also a great desire to help, to work together and to put things right. It may be possible to cut through a lot of the red tape that might otherwise prevent sensible solutions.
Many graduates are emerging from college to find their jobs no longer exist or their sector of employment is in decline. Employment prospects may appear bleak and yet, here they are, freshly emerged graduates. These young people, by virtue of the fact that they entered college, certainly have the basic English, Maths and Science skills which make them a valuable resource in the struggle to “catch up” the many children, of all ages, that have been adversely affected by the pandemic.
Graduates could be treated as volunteers in schools, giving children that all important one-to-one attention that enables them to progress. The graduate would feel appreciated and valued and would gain valuable work experience, learning to be part of a team, learning to communicate, absorbing the discipline of a work place . Children need be in o danger since all this would take place within the school itself.
Additionally, graduates will come from a wide spectrum of backgrounds. They can therefore be matched to the children they help. A child, whose first language is not English, may find it invaluable to be assisted by a similar adult. A graduate with specific learning difficulties will be able to provide empathetic help to a similar child.
Alternatively, the Government/schools, may find they can afford to pay an apprentice-level wage, thus reducing unemployment numbers and giving graduates a greater sense of worth.
After a life time teaching, I believe that the most effective way to improve learning is to be able to give one-to-one attention. This is never going to be possible in the classroom environment of one teacher to a large number of students. Children often get stuck on incredibly simple problems which do not need a fully trained teacher to solve. Children need interest and attention shown them and a willingness on the part of an adult to help them find a solution to their problems. Utilising otherwise unemployed graduates seems an honourable way of addressing this problem.
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