ISSUES AND CONCERNS FROM THE PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS
Present
Issues in Education
The list of issues
indicated below are compiled from the reactions and submissions sent in as a result of a
series of public consultations held throughout the British Virgin islands during the month
of January 2000.
In most of the
consultations, the following issues and concerns were brought to the attention of the
Review Team:
- The need to include more water-based
training in our curricula for the primary school level.
- Most effective and extensive use of
guidance counseling.
- A larger focus on main streaming
early childhood education.
- The need for a final, firm and
positive resolution on the pregnancy issues.
- Better teacher training programmes.
- Established teacher qualification.
- The need to break up the size of the
BVIHS with a 2nd high school on Tortola.
- The need for a vocational /technical
programme and facility.
- The need for more flexibility in the
school curricula.
- A need to re-examine the school
hours.
- The use of make up time in the event
of disruptions.
- The need to establish clear visions,
missions, values and strategies for education.
- Improved safety and security in
schools.
- School lunch programme
- The need for anti-violence training.
- The need for a clear career mobility
scheme for teachers.
- Our responsibility to protect,
preserve and manage the fragile environment of the BVI in an ecologically sustainable
manner.
- Our deep resolve to enhance the
social integration of the BVI as fair minded, just and forward-thinking society.
- Our fundamental belief that it is
our responsibility to assist you in determining our international relations including
self-determination of our political status.
- The need for an improved social
structure in schools including clubs, hobby groups, etc.
- The need to improve school
management at the macro and micro level.
- More dedicated programmes for school
dropouts.
- Improve school environment including
classrooms, campus and atmosphere.
- The need to review corporal
punishment and discipline in schools.
- The relevance of primary V
examinations.
- The need for a partnership in
education.
- The need to introduce more drama and
culture in the curricula.
- More flexibility in the recruitment
of teachers.
- To focus on solving problems,
entrepreneurship, discovery, adventure, etc.
- Better information flow on
what’s happening in education.
- Examine the parity between
CXE’s and local graduation certifications.
- The need for personality audits of
teachers and students.
In summary the
concerns and issues seems to be centered around revisiting package of core skills
necessary to produce globally competitive persons, improving the school environment,
improving teacher skills and improving physical facilities.
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