The Cayman Islands Further Education Centre will continue to operate in cramped, temporary facilities until next year, government confirmed Friday.
The school, which caters to more than 200 students in their final year of compulsory education, has been housed in the Family Life Centre for the entire first term of the academic year.
The temporary measure was controversially announced on the eve of the school term in September after it became clear that plans to renovate the old John Gray High School site would not be complete. The discovery of asbestos at the original CIFEC site on Walkers Road meant that those buildings – which are slated for demolition – were not an option for this term.
Parents have previously insisted they were assured the newly renovated John Gray site – sometimes referred to by its older name as the George Hicks Campus – would be ready by September, and expressed concern about the confusion and uncertainty that lasted right up to the start of term.
The Compass also understands there have been significant ongoing issues throughout this term because of the lack of space and appropriate teaching conditions at the Family Life Centre, which is essentially a large community hall. The newspaper is working on a more detailed report on CIFEC’s first term and has submitted a series of specific questions to the Ministry of Education and Department of Education Services.
Despite widespread concerns, education chiefs, in a press release issued Friday, hailed the temporary measures put in place for the first term as a success. The statement confirmed that CIFEC would remain in its temporary home till after Christmas and indicated the students would be in the renovated George Hicks Campus by January.
“Plans for CIFEC to relocate during the Christmas break will ensure a seamless transition for students and staff while allowing the contractors to finalise all the necessary preparations,” said DES Director Mark Ray.
“We are committed to maintaining the quality of education while ensuring that the new space meets all the requirements for occupancy.”
Significant renovations have been completed at the George Hicks Campus, the press release noted, including upgrades to classrooms and other learning spaces, extensive cleaning and air-quality testing and roofing repairs.
“External painting and walkway canopy repairs are also in the final stages, and work is expected to be finished within the coming week. The remaining scope of work includes walkway repairs and painting, for which materials are scheduled to arrive in mid-December,” the statement indicated.
‘Collaborative efforts’
CIFEC director Mark Seerattan is quoted in the press release praising the “collaborative efforts” that have “sustained continuity of teaching and learning throughout the term”.
He said, “Our ability to operate from the Family Life Centre has been instrumental to ensuring continued teaching and learning for the past few months.”
Seerattan added that partnerships with the new John Gray High School and Superior Auto had enabled students to make strides in TVET despite the challenges.
“I am particularly proud of our students’ maturity and resilience during the term. As a result, there have only been minimal incidents of major conflict despite our operations from a smaller site,” he stated.
Premier and Minister for Education Juliana O’Connor-Connolly praised CIFEC’s adaptability.
“I am pleased to see how the CIFEC family has banded together to ensure a successful Christmas term. The move to their new campus in January will provide even greater opportunities for students to excel and reach their full potential,” she said.
- The Cayman Compass is working on a more detailed story on the situation at CIFEC and the issues that have impacted the school over the past term. If you wish to contribute please contact James Whittaker at [email protected].
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