The following news release was recently sent out from the Acting Director of Education for The Bahamas at the Ministry of Education's web site Bahamas Education.
I have added my reaction after each paragraph below:
DIRECTOR REVEALS THE STATE OF EDUCATION IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM
NASSAU, Bahamas (August 31, 2007) – Newly appointed Acting Director, Lionel Sands gave District Superintendents, Curriculum Officers, Assistant Directors of Education and members of the press a progress report on the state of education in The Bahamas at a press conference at the British Colonial Hilton. Mr Sands told the gathering that “…the focus must be on creating a productive, prosperous, mobile and healthy society, and in 2007/2008, it [our educational system] must enable us to achieve our dreams through promoting excellence”.
This statement is reasonable enough to set a goal for the coming year.
He revealed that the Department of Education has undertaken and is continuing to implement a series of educational initiatives designed to promote comprehensive reform that will enable teachers to provide the best quality education for students.
The details of these initiatives must be a national secret???
The Acting Director stated that last year the education system moved steadily forward with noticeable progress in technical/vocational programs especially in the areas of building and mechanical trades, hospitality and business studies inclusive of computer studies. In collaboration with other government agencies and private sector partners the Ministry was able to realize the:
• An HIV/AIDS policy for schools
• National Spelling Bee and Debates
• Young Chefs and Designers Competition
• Visual Arts, Religious Studies and Science Exhibition,
• Technology Integration
• Character and Anti-Violence Programs
Maybe the Ministry of Education has introduced the above programmes but the industry I work in (automotive) has not seen any tangible results to date. But maybe it's the same old same old in that regard. Grand announcements and the spending of lots of tax dollars and borrowed money without any positive gains?
Other achievements during the past school year included the expansion of guidance counseling in primary schools, a sustained mentoring programme for new teachers and the production of a BGCSE Language Arts text for high schools that available in October 2007.
How about concentrating on improving exam results? Or is that too obvious to deal with?
Acting Director Sands also touched on some of the challenges of the past school year namely, a shortage of mathematics, technical and special educational teachers which prevented the reduction of class sizes in some instances. He stated that there were the usual incidents of inappropriate student behaviour, but the Safe School Manual and access to school policing helped to make the school environment safer. Mr Sands said that renewed effort continues be placed on ensuring that children with special needs are afforded equal opportunities. He also expressed concern about the shortage of males in the teaching profession and the inability to form a male - only teaching cadet.
We all have challenges with personnel. Seems to me that this could be a direct result of a failed educational system?
Addressing the issue of national exams, Mr Sands stated that the BGCSE and BJC are single subject examinations and as such any analysis of students’ performance should be done on the basis of individual subjects. He revealed that of the nine subjects offered at the BJC level, improved performance was noted in four subjects - General Science, Health Science, Family and Consumer Science and Technical Drawing. At the BGCSE level there was mixed improvement. Some subjects that saw improvements were in English Language, Commerce, Biology, Chemistry, Music, Spanish and French.
Seems like splitting hairs to me. The results are what they are. Funny, improvement in BJC results has been seen in areas except the basic necessities of reading, writing and arithmetic. What's wrong with this picture???
Concluding his report to the superintendents and assistant directors, Mr Sands said he believed that the District Improvement Plan Initiative will promote a school culture that enables teachers to give quality performance and for students to achieve at exceptional levels. The Plan calls all districts to analyze exams results and feedback from the community to determine strengths and weaknesses of each school in the district identify two or three areas of weaknesses to be addressed in the 2007/2008 school year, develop a plan to implement and submit documented evidence of improvements at the end of June.
What ever the details of the District Improvement Plan Initiative is, let's hope we see some improvement.
Lenora Black, district superintendent for Abaco and the Cays said in response to the Ministry’s charge for the new school year, the theme for her district is “In excellence for each student, in each class, in each school in Abaco”. This she believes is all encompassing and means that no one will be left out in trying to improve the district’s goals.
A lot has to change if no one is to be left behind, particularly with estimates suggesting that over 50% of school leavers are illiterate.
Damaris Thompson, assistant director for Grand Bahama, said that although the District Improvement Plan presents a challenge, Grand Bahama is up to meeting it head on. She said that her team will be strategizing to implement their district’s plan.
God knows we need more than symbolism over substance to help improve our educational system and the results they are achieving. Regretfully, this sounds like more of the same?
