Government school leaders in the Cayman Islands gathered Thursday, 6 September, for the first Principals’ Consultative Council meeting of the new academic year, saying they were encouraged that things were improving in the local system but that much work still needed to be done.
“Without good leadership there can be no effective reforms,” Education Minister Rolston Anglin told school leaders from government schools last week.
Minister Anglin thanked school leaders and their teachers for their commitment and hard work during the last school year. He congratulated the group on the fact that their efforts had translated into another record year for Year 12 students leaving school with five or more Level 2 passes, as well as encouraging progress in English and math in Year 6. However, he reminded the school leaders that this represented progress not the ultimate goal.
“We are not where we need to be yet, in terms of standards,” he said. “As school leaders the choices you make must come down to what is best for the children under your care. Our work, your work, will not be done until every child makes appropriate progress, every child succeeds.”
Minister Anglin thanked school leaders for embracing and supporting the ambitious school reform agenda for the last three years, despite the challenges presented. He reminded them of the critical emphasis that is being placed on raising standards. He encouraged school leaders at all levels to promote the importance of math and English as fundamental and foundation skills.
“Improving standards and having clear and unequivocal expectations about achievement are critical to moving our education system from good to great,” Mr. Anglin said.
The Principals’ Consultative Council meets monthly and is chaired by school leaders on a rotational basis. Chief Officer Mary Rodrigues explained that the council was established by the ministry in 2010 to give principals a voice in decision-making, to network, and to support their professional development.
“Our school leaders offer a very important source of advice to the minister and ministry, and we draw on their many years of collective expertise and experience for important decisions,” Mrs. Rodrigues said.
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