Government is putting more money into private education.
The $1.1 million budget increase to the $900,000 previously was approved in Finance Committee. It was announced by Education Minister Alden McLaughlin Friday.
‘Government funding for private schools had been decreasing since 2001, and with nine schools in the grant programme and another two interested in opening their doors, the current amount was being stretched thin,’ he said.
The funds are disbursed to the Cayman Islands Private Schools Association, which is responsible for distributing the funds according to a formula developed in concert with the government.
The system accorded a block grant of $10,000 per school and the balance distributed on a per-head basis. Collecting a total of $256,503 this past fiscal year, Cayman Prep and High School received the most government funding, while First Baptist and Grace Christian Academy tied for the least funding allocated with $35,995 in grant money apiece.
Saying that student numbers dictated that some schools were receiving the lion’s share, Mr. McLaughlin said the Ministry would also consider re-evaluating the formula by which grants are allocated.
While he expects the increased amount to be welcomed, the Minister said that it will come with strings attached.
‘This is government money, and it is being used for the greater good of the Cayman Islands,’ he said.
‘To that end, we are concerned with the lack of accountability and transparency when it comes to accessing the accounts of private schools. There will be an insistence on seeing audited accounts as a condition for subsidies.’
He said some of the schools will need to revisit their business plans.
‘There are only so many students in Cayman, and schools cannot continue to base their financial thinking on enrolment numbers,’ he said.
‘Some of these struggling schools are putting increased pressure on the public purse.’
The minister also expressed concern about private schools’ ability to discriminate against students with special needs and behavioural issues.
‘But what also concerns me is that government at present has no means to ensure private schools meet minimal national education standards, as their participation in the inspections process is purely voluntary,’ he said.
The minister said that allowing the lack of transparency to continue would be would be selling Cayman’s children short.
‘There are both public and private schools out there which do not meet standards right now,’ he said.
‘We will be working with them to improve, but if they don’t, they may have to close their doors.’
The Minister commented that there had been no resistance from the schools on this front, noting that the new schools inspectorate will have a schools improvement unit to deal with the issue.
A further concern the Minister said must now be dealt with is that some of the private schools operate as for-profit entities.
‘I’ve struggled with this issue, and I believe that if grants continue to be made to for-profit schools, they should have to give back in some way, for example by offering scholarships and tuition subsidies for students who might not otherwise be able to attend,’ he said.
Related Videos
