addressing issues of access, equity and participation - the bahamas
TRANSCRIPT
Regional Consultation on Development of the
Caribbean Development Bank’s New Education and Training Policy and
Strategy
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i. Introductionii. Policiesiii. Access and Equity
Family Island Schools
iv. New Initiatives
The geographical nature of our country
presents unique challenges that greatly
impact access and equity in education.
INTRODUCTION
POLICIES
According to the Education Act,
Chapter 46, Section 12:
POLICIES
“It shall be the duty of the Minister to ensure that there shall
be available in The Bahamas sufficient schools:
According to the Education Act,
Chapter 46, Section 12:
(a) for providing primary education, that is to say, full-time education suitable to the ages, abilities and aptitudes of primary pupils; and
POLICIES
According to the Education Act,
Chapter 46, Section 12:
(b) for providing secondary education, that is to say, full-time education suitable to the needs of secondary pupils, other that such full-time education may be provided in pursuance of a scheme made under the provision of this Act relating to further education.”
POLICIES
According to the Education Act it is compulsory for all
POLICIES
children between the ages of five (5) and sixteen (16) to attend school.
Educational level# of
schoolsGrade Levels
Primary Schools 94 Grades 1-6High schools (Family Islands) 21 Grades 7-12Junior High Schools(New Providence & Grand Bahama)
10 Grades 7-9
Senior High Schools(New Providence & Grand Bahama)
9 Grades 10-12
Stand alone Pre-schools 10 -Special Schools 13 -All-Age Schools 13 Grades 1-12Total 170
SCHOOLS IN THE BAHAMAS
POLICIESThere are five (5) core
subjects that are taught in every public school in the Commonwealth of
The Bahamas:
1. Mathematics2. Science3. Social Studies
4. Religious Studies5. Technical Subject
ACCESS & EQUITY
IslandStudent
Population# of Teachers # of
AdministratorsAbaco 2,494 140 23
North / Central Andros & Berry Island
1,391 97 19
South Andros & Mangrove Cay 559 50 9
Cat Island / Rum Cay / San Salvador 562 57 9
West Grand Bahama & Bimini 5,105 359 45
East Grand Bahama & The Cays 1,957 180 25
Long Island 625 64 9
MICAL (Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island, Acklins, Long Cay)
395 49 12
Total 10,594 996 151
ACCESS AND EQUITY- FAMILY ISLAND SCHOOLS
District / School NameStudent
population No. of
Teachers No. of
AdministratorsABACOGreat Guana Cat PrimaryAbaco Central HighAmy Roberts PrimaryCentral Abaco PrimaryCherokee Sound PrimaryCoopers Town PrimaryCrossing Rock PrimaryFox Town PrimaryHope Town PrimaryJames A Pinder PrimaryMan-O-War Cay PrimaryMoore’s Island All AgeScherlin C. Bootle HighTreasure Cay Primary
0463345
91623832857654023
149285143
0136043701070207030201112206
-04010501010201010101010202
ACCESS AND EQUITY-FAMILY ISLAND SCHOOLS
District / School NameStudent
population No. of
Teachers No. of
AdministratorsNORTH / CENTRAL ANDROS & THE BERRY ISLANDSB. A. Newton PrimaryBehering Point PrimaryBowen Sound PrimaryCentral Andros HighFresh Creek PrimaryLowe Sound PrimaryMastic Point PrimaryNicholl’s Town PrimaryNorth Andros HighR. N. Gomez All AgeStafford Creek Primary
535235
19711297
11614239815534
0403022307040608241402
0101010202020202030201
ACCESS AND EQUITY- FAMILY ISLAND SCHOOLS
District / School NameStudent
population No. of
Teachers No. of
AdministratorsSOUTH ANDROS AND MANGROVE CAYBurnt Rock PrimaryDeep Creek Pre-School AndrosHigh Rock Primary AndrosLong Bay Cays Pre-SchoolMangrove Cay HighSouth Andros HighVictoria Point Pre-School
103488929
11915021
05030602121903
01010101020201
ACCESS AND EQUITY- FAMILY ISLAND SCHOOLS
District / School NameStudent
population No. of
Teachers No. of
AdministratorsCAT ISL. / RUM CAY / SAN SALVADORArthurs Town HighDumfries PrimaryNew Bight PrimaryOld Bight HighOld Bight PrimaryOrange Creek PrimaryRum Cay All AgeSan Salvador HighUnited Estates Primary
842347
133621712
10084
120202110702011307
010101010101010101
ACCESS AND EQUITY- FAMILY ISLAND SCHOOLS
District / School NameStudent
population No. of
Teachers No. of
AdministratorsELEUTHERACentral Eleuthera HighCentre For Exceptional LearnersCurrent Island All AgeDeep Creek Primary – Eleuthera Emma E. Cooper PrimaryGovernor’s Harbour PrimaryGreen Castle PrimaryGregory Town PrimaryHarbour Island All Age James Cistern Primary North Eleuthera HighNorth Eleuthera PrimaryP. A. Gibson PrimaryPreston Albury HighResource Centre-EleutheraRock Sound PrimarySpanish Wells All AgeTarpum Bay PrimaryWemyss Bight primary
354090742
1071165940
40120
203219105301
-78
20110999
27010206090804062603161207240310190609
03010102020202010301030101020102010201
ACCESS AND EQUITY- FAMILY ISLAND SCHOOLS
District / School NameStudent
population No. of
Teachers No. of
AdministratorsEXUMA AND RAGGED ISLANDBlack Point All AgeExuma Class for Exceptional ChildrenFarmers Cay All AgeForest PrimaryGeorge Town PrimaryL. N. Coakley HighMoss Town PrimaryMount Thompson PrimaryRagged Island All Age Roker’s Point PrimaryRolleville PrimaryStaniel Cay All AgeStuart Manor PrimaryWilliams Town Primary
33050127
1113414550199230116623
03--
0107380302010602-
0201
0101-
0101030101010101-
0101
ACCESS AND EQUITY- FAMILY ISLAND SCHOOLS
District / School NameStudent
population No. of
Teachers No. of
AdministratorsWEST GRAND BAHAMA & BIMINIBartlett Hill PrimaryBimini PrimaryEight Mile Rock HighHolmes Rock PrimaryHugh Campbell PrimaryLewis Yard PrimaryLouise McDonald HighMartin Town PrimarySister Mary Patricia Russell Jr. HighSt. Georges HighThe Beacon SchoolWalter Parker PrimaryWest End Primary
325104703130760155126271784792111727117
20086206371412194175203510
03010702040302030607020401
ACCESS AND EQUITY- FAMILY ISLAND SCHOOLS
District / School NameStudent
populationNo. of
Teachers No. of
AdministratorsEAST GRAND BAHAMA AND THE CAYSEast End Junior (Mcclean’s Town)East End Pre-School (Freetown)East End Primary (High Rock)Freeport PrimaryGrand Cay All AgeJack Hayward HighMaurice E. Moore PrimaryMcCleans Town Pre-SchoolProgramme Sure Sweeting’s Cay All AgeThe Haven (PACE)
121660
6171024486671001168
02010835098333010404-
0101010501070501010101
ACCESS AND EQUITY- FAMILY ISLAND SCHOOLS
ACCESS AND EQUITY- FAMILY ISLAND SCHOOLS District / School Name
Student population
No. of Teachers
No. of Administrators
LONG ISLANDGlinton’s PrimaryLower Deadman’s Cay PrimaryMangrove Bush PrimaryMorrisville PrimaryNGM Major HighNorth Long IslandSimm’s Primary
38799328
18913365
03060902191807
01010101020201
District / School NameStudent
population No. of
Teachers No. of
Administrators
MICALAbraham’s Bay HighAcklins Central HighCrooked Island HighInagua All AgeLong Cay All AgeLovely Bay PrimaryPirates Well PrimarySalina Point PrimarySnug Corner PrimaryUlric Ferguson Primary
207531
168021418291622
05101018-
0101020101
01010102010101010102
ACCESS AND EQUITY- FAMILY ISLAND SCHOOLS
CHALLENGESi. Geographyii. Infrastructure iii. Remote Areasiv. Human Resourcesv. Limited Subject Areas
POLICIES• Equity, access participation• Scholarships for family Island
Students to attend high school in New Providence or Grand Bahama
• Free Dental / Medical Care• Free Lunch Programme• Exam Centres in all Public School• Human Resources
Rental allowance Hardship allowance Allowances / teacher who work at two schools College of the Bahamas graduates are assigned to the Family Islands
ACCESS AND EQUITY- FAMILY ISLAND SCHOOLS
Farmers Cay All Age School
English Language General Science Social Studies Technical Drawing Health Science Religious Studies
Inagua All-Age School
English Language General Science Mathematics Technical Drawing Art
C.V Bethel Senior High School, which is located in New
Providence, is the largest school in The Bahamas. It has a
population of 1,118 students, 9 Administrators and
106 Teachers.
Long Cay All Age School, located in Crooked Island, is the smallest
school in The Bahamas with a population of 2 students and
1 Administrator.
FUN FACTS
N.G.M. Major High School, which located in Long Island, is the top performing school
on National Assessments.
Spanish Wells All-Age School, located on the Island of Spanish Wells, has 100% performance in National Exams in Maths, English
and Science.
FUN FACTS
INITIATIVES
Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald, MP
Minister of Education, Science & Technology
INITIATIVES
Pre-schoolsBahamas High School
DiplomaStudent achievement Marjorie Davis, Mable
WalkerEMISPrometheanLeadership InstituteProfessional Development
InstituteTechnology, Computerization
APPublic School ScholarshipsBursary/tertiaryPost Secondary / Tertiary
Level◦ College of the Bahamas◦ Bahamas technical &
Vocational Institute◦ BAMSI
INITIATIVES
ACCESS AND EQUITY-INITIATIVES
• Bahamas Learning ChannelPromotion of Education and culture collaboration through television.Programmes can be used by teachers, students and parents.
BLC-Comin Soon.mp4
ACCESS AND EQUITY-INITIATIVES
• Learning Resources Section Programme – ‘A Time for Education’ Area during school programme so that teachers
can utilize it as teaching tool Aired in the afternoon to encourage parent /
teacher participation
• Promethian Project Use of internet to
provide distance education.
ACCESS AND EQUITY-INITIATIVES
• ClassFlow The Promethean Company has partnered with
the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the University of South Florida to produce lesson plans which can be used by teachers in Math, Science, Business Studies and English Langauge
• Aggressive Professional Development Programme Training of teachers in all areas Administrative training programme
ACCESS AND EQUITY-INITIATIVES
• ClassFlow The Promethean Company has partnered with
the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the University of South Florida to produce lesson plans which can be used by teachers in Math, Science, Business Studies and English Langauge
• Aggressive Professional Development Programme Training of teachers in all areas Administrative training programme - McRel Intl.
ACCESS AND EQUITY-INITIATIVES• OAS - ITEN
Afforded teachers to participate in a training programme via the internet.
All schools, teachers and staff can access the Ministry’s website for information.
• Communication Section Twitter, Facebook, instagram, Ministry website
• Computerization Project Ensuring access to computers in all public
schools. Provide support for the Technology Coordination
Unit
ACCESS AND EQUITY-INITIATIVES• Universal Primary Education
Establishment of the Pre-School Unit to public primary schools to ensure access to early childhood education.
• Tertiary Education Scholarship Programmes - Bursary
Allows students with 5 BGCSE, at grade ‘C’ and above, access to free tertiary education at the College of The Bahamas (400 students eligible).
International Scholarships Universities and colleges partner with MOEST to provide
scholarships (56 students eligible).
ACCESS AND EQUITY-INITIATIVES• Cadet Programmes (NP & GB)
Teacher Nursing Technical Foreign Language
• Competition Spelling Bee Debate Sports (basketball, track and field)
ACCESS AND EQUITY-INITIATIVES
• Summer Programmes Hack.IT Camp STEMForce
• Pre SchoolFor decades, many children were introduced to official schooling upon entry to first grade at the age of five. Over the years, it was observed by first grade teachers that there was a huge disparity between those students who would have been exposed to preschool education and those who were not.
NEW INITIATIVES
• Pre SchoolIn some instances, children were entering the first grade without prior knowledge of basic skills fundamental to their academic, social and emotional growth and development. There was no question that those children who had entered first grade with preschool experience had an advantage over those who did not.
NEW INITIATIVES
• Bahamas High School DiplomaThe Ministry of Education, Science & Technology recognizes education as essential to enhancing the quality of life of the people of The Bahamas. The specific focus of the Department of Education therefore is to prepare young people to become more active, globally competitive, caring and compassionate citizens with the capacity to continuously improve the quality of life for themselves and others.
NEW INITIATIVES
• Bahamas High School DiplomaIn an effort to ensure that all students have an opportunity to do this, as well as to graduate, it is the Ministry’s desire to see more students qualify as graduates from high school. The Ministry has therefore introduced a new initiative to assist students with qualifying to graduate. This programme is called the Bahamas High School Diploma which was implemented in September 2014.
NEW INITIATIVES
• Student AchievementThe student Achievement Section (SAS) was established in September 2014 to support the Bahamas High School Diploma (BHSD) which was also introduced in September 2014. Aimed at meeting the diverse needs of students in the public schools and improving the public education system in The Bahamas, this section is data driven and focuses on providing the necessary intervention to aide in student success.
NEW INITIATIVES
• Student AchievementData collection, analysis and dissemination play a pivotal role in meeting the Section’s mandate. Research and data will drive the decision making process relative to policies for the enhancement of programmes and initiatives designed for students.
NEW INITIATIVES
• Student AchievementAdditionally, intervention in subject areas and within schools where deficiencies are identified will be targeted and addressed. Data will also foster accountability up and down the system.The Student Achievement Section is a critical component in the Ministry’s overall objective of increasing the current high school graduation rate from approximately 50% to at least 75% by 2030.
NEW INITIATIVES
• Marjorie Davis InstituteThe Marjorie Davis Institute was officially opened to students on January 7th of this year. At that time, it held on fifth of its present population. It is comprised of four major areas: Diagnostic and Consultative Services Intervention Services Training Services Research
NEW INITIATIVES
• Marjorie Davis InstituteThe institute services children with mild learning and developmental disabilities who represent the largest proportion of all students with disabilities here in The Bahamas.
NEW INITIATIVES
It is the perfect environment to properly diagnose and assess how our exceptional children learn and wherever possible, help them to be able to matriculate into to the regular school system.
• Mable Walker Professional Development InstituteThe goal of the Mable Walker Professional Development Institute is to create, in The Bahamas, a cadre of education sector workers who are better prepared with the requisite skills to lead and serve, while promoting the value of ongoing learning and growth for all.
The Institute will offer to all educational professionals, administrative and support personnel, a variety of relevant and effective professional development activities and resources that are based on agreed performance standards and competences.
NEW INITIATIVES
• Mable Walker Professional Development InstituteThe Institute will seek to align policy with practices; build leadership and capacity to deliver change at all levels; improve the delivery of services to the public; particularly students; and generally, to increase effectiveness and efficiency within the Ministry.
NEW INITIATIVES
