Greater autonomy for schools, better management and less bureaucracy are among the things called for in the report of the national education conference – described as a blueprint for education reform in Cayman.
Mr. McLaughlin |
The report – which includes responses from more than 600 participants at the two-day education conference – was recently endorsed with the passing of a government motion in the Legislative Assembly.
The House was told a detailed implementation plan would now be developed.
Education Minister Alden McLaughlin said what was proposed was not a minor repair job.
It was a sea change in education, said Mr.McLauglin, who went on to outline 10 strategies – previously reported in the Caymanian Compass – to bring about the changes.
In looking at the school curriculum, the main thrust of the report’s recommendations was the call for a comprehensive review and revision of the current national curriculum and how students were assessed, from pre-school to high school and beyond.
The need to have a greater emphasis on programmes of technical and vocational education and life skills was identified as a priority.
It was also felt the content of the current curriculum was excessive and, in some cases, inappropriate for given age groups.
‘There has been a tendency to keep adding bits to the curriculum as they assume national and international importance, but not to remove anything,’ the report says.
Turning to personnel issues, the report says there was a desire expressed for an increase in pay for educators and a strong suggestion that there should be more supply teachers.
The recruitment process came in for criticism and recommendations were made about the way staff was treated.
‘Teachers often feel undervalued and that their opinions are not respected,’ says the report which adds that teachers often felt insecure and ‘afraid to speak out for fear of losing their jobs.’
‘Many of the issues raised point to a need to reduce bureaucracy and to improve systems and communications at all levels,’ says the report.
In focusing on the Education Service, the report called for clearer policies and processes and for principals to have greater autonomy in running their schools and more control over their budget.
The management of the Education Department was identified as a priority in terms of the need for better planning, foresight and other things.
‘In summary, respondents are calling for more efficient and effective management systems and clearer identification of roles and responsibilities, with a more supportive approach to schools,’ says the report.
Turning to other issues, the need for parenting classes was identified and the establishment of a teacher training facility on the island was suggested.
One recommendation was that the remit of education service should be broadened to include training of prison inmates and adult literacy classes.
It was clear, the report says, that if education was to be improved, there had to be a new model of governance for the education service, ‘which places students firmly at the centre.’
‘We must place students’ needs and interests at the forefront of decision-making within the education service,’ it adds.
Mr. McLaughlin
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