Topic: schools
2025 Year in review: Milestones in education
It was a year of change and celebration in Cayman’s education system from the old to the new, with UCCI marking its 50th anniversary in 2025 and new schools including CF High School and Kiddiwinks Garden playschool opening their doors for the first time.
Schools back in and heavy morning traffic will soon follow
Cayman's children are heading back to school, with some returning to classes this week and the rest by the end of the first week...
Cayman could be data storage hub for Caribbean, expert says
Cayman could become a Caribbean-wide storage centre for sensitive information as the use of artificial intelligence continues to grow, a government adviser has said.
Youngsters hit the bottle as young as 11, major survey finds
Cayman children start drinking at age 11 on average, a survey has found.
The study also reported that alcohol was the earliest drug used by...
Confusion over school closures hits parents and teachers
Government authorities were accused of causing confusion among parents and teachers Wednesday by issuing conflicting messages over school closures due to the bad weather.
Leaders celebrate increased East End childcare
The opening of a new nursery marks a step in the right direction for increasing childcare options on Grand Cayman, according to Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly. While much more remains to be done in addressing the high demand, she said she is glad to see progress being made.
Analysis: 10 key announcements from government’s budget
The Cayman Islands government has unveiled a $2 billion two-year budget and outlined an additional $270 million in planned capital spending over the same period.
As part of our Cayman Compass budget briefing we look at 10 key proposals contained in the policy speeches and documents.
Government publishes policy to tackle bullying in schools
A government policy which sets out how all schools in the Cayman Islands should tackle bullying has been published online.
Parents’ verdict: ‘Concerned over possible school closures’
We asked readers - particularly parents of school age children - what they thought of the prospect of the Cayman Islands reopening to visitors in October.
COVID anxiety casts shadow over school opening
Anxiety over the potential threat of COVID in classrooms is casting a shadow over the new school term.
Rethinking our divided school system
Calls to end 'segregation' in schools and allow Caymanian and expat children to sit alongside each other in the islands’ classrooms are ringing out on the election campaign trail. We look at if and how that could happen.
New principal goes from quarantine to school reopening
Cayman International School's new director Jim Urquhart came straight out of quarantine in July to oversee the final preparations for the start of the new term in August.
Anxiety and relief as schools prepare to reopen
Anxiety, uncertainty and, in some cases, outright rebellion are the prevailing emotions among parents in the Cayman Islands ahead of a school year like no other.
Education minister: Schools closed until further notice
Cayman’s private and public schools will not reopen any time soon, according to Education Minister Juliana O'Connor-Connolly.
Schools close, cruise ships banned to prevent coronavirus spread
All Cayman’s schools will be closed and extensive travel restrictions put in place to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
EDITORIAL – Education 102: A ‘re-introduction’ to Cayman’s schools
In first world countries, this sort of information falls into the category of “old news” (or “not news”) because the figures typically are well-known and readily available to the public. In Cayman – well …. Suffice to say that our reporter Mark Muckenfuss put his phone book, Rolodex and records searching ability to good use.
EDITORIAL – School’s out: Slow down and savor the summer
After months of early mornings, homework assignments and classroom lessons, children have the time and space to follow their own interests.
Raphael: The great British education divide
While the details are not yet clear, [May’s] plan seems to make grammar schools more meritocratic and more open to underprivileged pupils.
‘Interventions’ aim to lift reading ability
Interventions helped 86 percent of Year 1 students in the public school system meet the expected literacy level for their age group in the last academic year – the first time the intensive intervention program has been used in Cayman’s schools.
EDITORIAL – We’re inspired by ‘Minds Inspired’
It is with tremendous satisfaction that we celebrate the academic achievements of our brightest, most-talented and hardest-working children.
Wesleyan inducts staff for school year
Six former Wesleyan Christian Academy graduates have joined the school’s staff this year.
New public school teachers take in Turtle Farm
The Cayman Turtle farm recently welcomed a group of teachers who are starting at Cayman’s primary and secondary schools this year.
EDITORIAL – Minister Rivers takes a ‘pass’ on schools report
Education Minister Tara Rivers appears to be missing, or willfully overlooking, the central point of the report her own government commissioned — that Cayman’s government should get out of the business of running schools altogether.
Officials: ‘No school paper shortage’
Government insists there is no shortage of basic resources like paper, printer toner and pencils in public schools.
Post: Charter schools under attack
Schools that fail to educate students – be they charter or traditional – should be shuttered.
Where does the buck stop on education failures?
Comments from CaymanCompass.com readers
EDITORIAL – School woes not just ‘on paper’
We’ve all heard of, “No more pencils, no more books” — but no more paper?
PTAs cite lack of school resources
A “recurring issue” of a lack of paper at schools in the Cayman Islands is one of the grievances highlighted by parents at a forum with education officials.
Calls for more cash for public schools
Government was urged to consider stopping funding for private schools or pulling cash from the budget surplus, Monday, as opposition legislators called for increased spending to plug the gaps in the education system.
Breaking down the budget
Government’s budget priorities for the year ahead include increased funding for schools, modest pay raises for civil servants, and more money for the country’s financial regulator and for public health to fight diseases such as the Zika virus.
Stricter school dress code considered
Cayman Islands public schools will consider a stricter dress code for students, following a review this year.
Students reflect on primary school years
Students who will soon be moving on from West Bay’s public primary school recently took some time to look back on their experience and offer words of thanks and advice.
Reunion organized for Cayman Islands High School alumni
Former Cayman Islands High School students are invited to a full school reunion on July 9, hosted by Ivan and Mabel Farrington at the Cayman Turtle Farm.
EDITORIAL – Standing with the parents at Savannah Primary
Savannah Primary School has an aspirational logo that includes an inspirational message: “THE BEST ALWAYS.”
Savannah Primary PTA petitions for more resources
The Savannah Primary School Parent Teacher Association is set to deliver a petition to the Ministry of Education Tuesday asking the government to allocate more money to the school, which they say is struggling due to inadequate resources.
Choir contest roars to climactic finale at Lions Centre
Nine school choirs have been selected as finalists in the Lions Club of Grand Cayman Youth Choir competition 2016.
Students take on Battle of the Books
Following a tense morning of literary competition, Cayman Prep’s Demi-Gods team emerged as the senior division champions in the annual Battle of the Books reading competition.
School exams moving to computers in 2017
Filling in little circles on the Scantron sheet with a No. 2 pencil will be a thing of the past for students in Cayman government secondary schools. Starting in January, the Caribbean Examination Council tests will be giving all its Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate multiple choice exams on computers.
Math challenges high school students
More than 100 students from all eight high schools in the Cayman Islands competed at the annual Minds Inspired Mathematics Challenge at the University College of the Cayman Islands on April 14 and 15.
Training program aims to stop child sexual abuse in Cayman
Cayman is known for being a small, tight-knit community where news travels fast. As the saying goes, when you sneeze in East End, West Bay says “God bless you.” One issue that people are often reluctant to talk about, however, is child sexual abuse.
Young Caymanian selected to attend New York music workshop
A 19-year-old clarinetist is the latest musician in Cayman to be chosen to attend summer music workshop at the renowned Luzerne Music Center in New York.
Lawmakers to consider new education legislation
A comprehensive update of outdated legislation underpinning the territory’s education system goes to the Legislative Assembly for debate this month.
Investment summit speakers donate signed books
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis, notorious hacker-turned-computer-security-consultant Kevin Mitnick and other headline speakers from this year’s Cayman Alternative Investment Summit donated 160 autographed copies of their books.
Brac high school hosts career fair
Students from Layman E. Scott High School took part in the school’s career fair earlier this month, where representatives from 11 local companies met with the students.
New crosswalks improve pedestrian safety
Three new crosswalks with flashing lights – by Savannah Primary School, near the Seventh-day Adventist Church and Cayman Academy on Walkers Road, and by Bodden Town Primary School – also have buttons for pedestrians to press to activate the warning lights for drivers.
Cayman Academy hosts first careers fair
Cayman Academy held its first careers fair on March 21, with 11 organizations exhibiting.
Bid process for high school begins
Work on the new John Gray High School building is expected to restart in June, according to the Ministry of Education.
Turtle Farm’s education programs bring learning to life
The district of West Bay is home to a unique opportunity for youngsters to connect with Cayman’s natural and cultural heritage.
New principal for John Gray High School
British educator Jonathan Clark has taken over as the principal of Grand Cayman’s John Gray High School.
Student drug survey volunteers sought
The National Drug Council is seeking volunteers to help administer the Cayman Islands Student Drug Use Survey.
Young debaters boost their skills
A workshop to help young debaters hone their skills was recently held at several schools.
Kids CARE at George Town Primary
Students at George Town Primary School are participating in a new program this month aimed at building their knowledge of proper animal care.
Storyboard contest inspires readers
More than 100 enthusiastic students descended on George Town Public Library on Jan. 23 to attend the 2016 Cayman Islands Information Professionals Storyboard Competition, said the library and information science professionals association’s Su Mander.
Literacy Week brings out creativity
The Sir John A. Cumber Primary IB World School celebrated Literacy Week from Jan. 26 – 29, under the guidance of literacy coach Giselle Elias and library skills teacher Annette Vaughan.
Youth Day at GT Primary
Celebrate our Youth Day, held at the George Town Annex Playing Field on Saturday, Jan. 30, was an opportunity for Cayman’s young people to get to know the business community and other organizations.
Cayman International School upgrades and expands
The Cayman International School is marking the recent completion of the second planned phase of adding new classrooms and fixtures. A press release states that with a growing student body now surpassing 580, the school was in need of more functional space.
50 years ago: A call for better parenting
In the Jan. 26, 1966 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, Bodden Town correspondent Arthur Hunter wrote: “During the course of last week four children were expelled from the Cayman Secondary Grammar School for conduct unbecoming schoolchildren."
Primary Football playoffs: Cayman Prep, Red Bay repeat as league champions
The heavy rains that drenched the Annex Field on Saturday did not affect the enthusiasm and excitement of the 2015/2016 CUC Primary Football League and Girls Primary Football League finals and third-place games.
