Presented at the Regional Consultation on the Development of New Education and Training Policy and Strategy at CDB in St. Michael, Barbados in July 2016

2. i. Introduction
ii. Policies
iii. Access and Equity
 Family Island
Schools
iv. New Initiatives

3. The geographical
nature of our country
presents unique
challenges that greatly
impact access and
equity in education.

5. According to the
Education Act,
Chapter 46, Section 12:
“It shall be the duty of the
Minister to ensure that there shall
be available in The Bahamas
sufficient schools:

6. According to the
Education Act,
Chapter 46, Section 12:
(a) for providing primary education, that is
to say, full-time education suitable to the
ages, abilities and aptitudes of primary
pupils; and

7. According to the
Education Act,
Chapter 46, Section 12:
(b) for providing secondary education, that is to
say, full-time education suitable to the needs of
secondary pupils, other that such full-time
education may be provided in pursuance of a
scheme made under the provision of this Act
relating to further education.”

8. According to the
Education Act it is
compulsory for all
children between the ages of
five (5) and sixteen (16) to
attend school.

9. Educational level
# of
schools
Grade
Levels
Primary Schools 94 Grades 1-6
High schools (Family Islands) 21 Grades 7-12
Junior High Schools
(New Providence & Grand Bahama)
10 Grades 7-9
Senior High Schools
(New Providence & Grand Bahama)
9 Grades 10-12
Stand alone Pre-schools 10 -
Special Schools 13 -
All-Age Schools 13 Grades 1-12
Total 170

10. There are five (5) core
subjects that are taught
in every public school in
the Commonwealth of
The Bahamas:
1. Mathematics
2. Science
3. Social Studies
4. Religious Studies
5. Technical Subject

12. Island
Student
Population
# of Teachers # of
Administrators
Abaco 2,494 140 23
North / Central Andros & Berry
Island
1,391 97 19
South Andros & Mangrove Cay 559 50 9
Cat Island / Rum Cay / San Salvador 562 57 9
West Grand Bahama & Bimini 5,105 359 45
East Grand Bahama & The Cays 1,957 180 25
Long Island 625 64 9
MICAL
(Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island, Acklins, Long Cay)
395 49 12
Total 10,594 996 151
ACCESS AND EQUITY- FAMILY ISLAND SCHOOLS

13. District / School Name
Student
population
No. of
Teachers
No. of
Administrators
ABACO
Great Guana Cat Primary
Abaco Central High
Amy Roberts Primary
Central Abaco Primary
Cherokee Sound Primary
Coopers Town Primary
Crossing Rock Primary
Fox Town Primary
Hope Town Primary
James A Pinder Primary
Man-O-War Cay Primary
Moore’s Island All Age
Scherlin C. Bootle High
Treasure Cay Primary
04
633
45
916
23
83
28
57
65
40
23
149
285
143
01
36
04
37
01
07
02
07
03
02
01
11
22
06
-
04
01
05
01
01
02
01
01
01
01
01
02
02
ACCESS AND EQUITY-
FAMILY ISLAND SCHOOLS

14. District / School Name
Student
population
No. of
Teachers
No. of
Administrators
NORTH / CENTRAL ANDROS &
THE BERRY ISLANDS
B. A. Newton Primary
Behering Point Primary
Bowen Sound Primary
Central Andros High
Fresh Creek Primary
Lowe Sound Primary
Mastic Point Primary
Nicholl’s Town Primary
North Andros High
R. N. Gomez All Age
Stafford Creek Primary
53
52
35
197
112
97
116
142
398
155
34
04
03
02
23
07
04
06
08
24
14
02
01
01
01
02
02
02
02
02
03
02
01
ACCESS AND EQUITY-
FAMILY ISLAND SCHOOLS

15. District / School Name
Student
population
No. of
Teachers
No. of
Administrators
SOUTH ANDROS AND MANGROVE CAY
Burnt Rock Primary
Deep Creek Pre-School Andros
High Rock Primary Andros
Long Bay Cays Pre-School
Mangrove Cay High
South Andros High
Victoria Point Pre-School
103
48
89
29
119
150
21
05
03
06
02
12
19
03
01
01
01
01
02
02
01
ACCESS AND EQUITY- FAMILY ISLAND SCHOOLS

16. District / School Name
Student
population
No. of
Teachers
No. of
Administrators
CAT ISL. / RUM CAY / SAN SALVADOR
Arthurs Town High
Dumfries Primary
New Bight Primary
Old Bight High
Old Bight Primary
Orange Creek Primary
Rum Cay All Age
San Salvador High
United Estates Primary
84
23
47
133
62
17
12
100
84
12
02
02
11
07
02
01
13
07
01
01
01
01
01
01
01
01
01
ACCESS AND EQUITY- FAMILY ISLAND SCHOOLS

17. District / School Name
Student
population
No. of
Teachers
No. of
Administrators
ELEUTHERA
Central Eleuthera High
Centre For Exceptional Learners
Current Island All Age
Deep Creek Primary – Eleuthera
Emma E. Cooper Primary
Governor’s Harbour Primary
Green Castle Primary
Gregory Town Primary
Harbour Island All Age
James Cistern Primary
North Eleuthera High
North Eleuthera Primary
P. A. Gibson Primary
Preston Albury High
Resource Centre-Eleuthera
Rock Sound Primary
Spanish Wells All Age
Tarpum Bay Primary
Wemyss Bight primary
354
09
07
42
107
116
59
40
401
20
203
219
105
301
-
78
201
109
99
27
01
02
06
09
08
04
06
26
03
16
12
07
24
03
10
19
06
09
03
01
01
02
02
02
02
01
03
01
03
01
01
02
01
02
01
02
01
ACCESS AND EQUITY- FAMILY ISLAND SCHOOLS

18. District / School Name
Student
population
No. of
Teachers
No. of
Administrators
EXUMA AND RAGGED ISLAND
Black Point All Age
Exuma Class for Exceptional Children
Farmers Cay All Age
Forest Primary
George Town Primary
L. N. Coakley High
Moss Town Primary
Mount Thompson Primary
Ragged Island All Age
Roker’s Point Primary
Rolleville Primary
Staniel Cay All Age
Stuart Manor Primary
Williams Town Primary
33
05
01
27
111
341
45
50
19
92
30
11
66
23
03
-
-
01
07
38
03
02
01
06
02
-
02
01
01
01
-
01
01
03
01
01
01
01
01
-
01
01
ACCESS AND EQUITY- FAMILY ISLAND SCHOOLS

19. District / School Name
Student
population
No. of
Teachers
No. of
Administrators
WEST GRAND BAHAMA & BIMINI
Bartlett Hill Primary
Bimini Primary
Eight Mile Rock High
Holmes Rock Primary
Hugh Campbell Primary
Lewis Yard Primary
Louise McDonald High
Martin Town Primary
Sister Mary Patricia Russell Jr. High
St. Georges High
The Beacon School
Walter Parker Primary
West End Primary
325
104
703
130
760
155
126
271
784
792
111
727
117
20
08
62
06
37
14
12
19
41
75
20
35
10
03
01
07
02
04
03
02
03
06
07
02
04
01
ACCESS AND EQUITY- FAMILY ISLAND SCHOOLS

20. District / School Name
Student
population
No. of
Teachers
No. of
Administrators
EAST GRAND BAHAMA AND THE
CAYS
East End Junior (Mcclean’s Town)
East End Pre-School (Freetown)
East End Primary (High Rock)
Freeport Primary
Grand Cay All Age
Jack Hayward High
Maurice E. Moore Primary
McCleans Town Pre-School
Programme Sure
Sweeting’s Cay All Age
The Haven (PACE)
12
16
60
617
102
448
667
10
01
16
8
02
01
08
35
09
83
33
01
04
04
-
01
01
01
05
01
07
05
01
01
01
01
ACCESS AND EQUITY- FAMILY ISLAND SCHOOLS

21. ACCESS AND EQUITY- FAMILY ISLAND SCHOOLS
District / School Name
Student
population
No. of
Teachers
No. of
Administrators
LONG ISLAND
Glinton’s Primary
Lower Deadman’s Cay
Primary
Mangrove Bush Primary
Morrisville Primary
NGM Major High
North Long Island
Simm’s Primary
38
79
93
28
189
133
65
03
06
09
02
19
18
07
01
01
01
01
02
02
01

22. District / School Name
Student
population
No. of
Teachers
No. of
Administrators
MICAL
Abraham’s Bay High
Acklins Central High
Crooked Island High
Inagua All Age
Long Cay All Age
Lovely Bay Primary
Pirates Well Primary
Salina Point Primary
Snug Corner Primary
Ulric Ferguson Primary
20
75
31
168
02
14
18
29
16
22
05
10
10
18
-
01
01
02
01
01
01
01
01
02
01
01
01
01
01
02
ACCESS AND EQUITY- FAMILY ISLAND SCHOOLS

23. i. Geography
ii. Infrastructure
iii. Remote Areas
iv. Human Resources
v. Limited Subject Areas

24. • Equity, access participation
• Scholarships for family Island
Students to attend high school in
New Providence or Grand
Bahama
• Free Dental / Medical Care
• Free Lunch Programme
• Exam Centres in all Public School
• Human Resources
 Rental allowance
 Hardship allowance
 Allowances / teacher who work at two schools
 College of the Bahamas graduates are assigned to the Family Islands

25. ACCESS AND EQUITY- FAMILY ISLAND SCHOOLS
Farmers Cay All Age
School
 English Language
 General Science
 Social Studies
 Technical Drawing
 Health Science
 Religious Studies
Inagua All-Age School
 English Language
 General Science
 Mathematics
 Technical Drawing
 Art

26. C.V Bethel Senior High School,
which is located in New
Providence, is the largest school
in The Bahamas. It has a
population of 1,118 students,
9 Administrators and
106 Teachers.
Long Cay All Age School, located
in Crooked Island, is the smallest
school in The Bahamas with a
population of 2 students and
1 Administrator.

27. N.G.M. Major High School, which
located in Long Island, is the
top performing school
on National Assessments.
Spanish Wells All-Age School,
located on the Island of Spanish
Wells, has 100% performance in
National Exams in Maths, English
and Science.

29. Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald, MP
Minister of Education, Science & Technology

30.  Pre-schools
 Bahamas High School
Diploma
 Student achievement
 Marjorie Davis, Mable
Walker
 EMIS
 Promethean
 Leadership Institute
 Professional Development
Institute
 Technology, Computerization
 AP
 Public School Scholarships
 Bursary/tertiary
 Post Secondary / Tertiary
Level
◦ College of the Bahamas
◦ Bahamas technical &
Vocational Institute
◦ BAMSI

31. ACCESS AND EQUITY-INITIATIVES
• Bahamas Learning Channel
Promotion of Education and culture collaboration
through television.
Programmes can be used by teachers, students
and parents.
BLC-Comin Soon.mp4

32. ACCESS AND EQUITY-INITIATIVES
• Learning Resources Section Programme
– ‘A Time for Education’
 Area during school programme so that teachers
can utilize it as teaching tool
 Aired in the afternoon to encourage parent /
teacher participation
• Promethian Project
 Use of internet to
provide distance
education.

33. ACCESS AND EQUITY-INITIATIVES
• ClassFlow
 The Promethean Company has partnered with
the Ministry of Education, Science and
Technology and the University of South Florida
to produce lesson plans which can be used by
teachers in Math, Science, Business Studies and
English Langauge
• Aggressive Professional Development
Programme
 Training of teachers in all areas
 Administrative training programme

34. ACCESS AND EQUITY-INITIATIVES
• ClassFlow
 The Promethean Company has partnered with
the Ministry of Education, Science and
Technology and the University of South Florida
to produce lesson plans which can be used by
teachers in Math, Science, Business Studies and
English Langauge
• Aggressive Professional Development
Programme
 Training of teachers in all areas
 Administrative training programme - McRel Intl.

35. ACCESS AND EQUITY-INITIATIVES
• OAS - ITEN
 Afforded teachers to participate in a training
programme via the internet.
 All schools, teachers and staff can access the
Ministry’s website for information.
• Communication Section
 Twitter, Facebook, instagram, Ministry website
• Computerization Project
 Ensuring access to computers in all public
schools.
 Provide support for the Technology Coordination
Unit

36. ACCESS AND EQUITY-INITIATIVES
• Universal Primary Education
 Establishment of the Pre-School Unit to public
primary schools to ensure access to early
childhood education.
• Tertiary Education
 Scholarship Programmes - Bursary
 Allows students with 5 BGCSE, at grade ‘C’ and above, access to
free tertiary education at the College of The Bahamas
(400 students eligible).
 International Scholarships
 Universities and colleges partner with MOEST to provide
scholarships (56 students eligible).

37. ACCESS AND EQUITY-INITIATIVES
• Cadet Programmes (NP & GB)
 Teacher
 Nursing
 Technical
 Foreign Language
• Competition
 Spelling Bee
 Debate
 Sports (basketball, track and field)

38. ACCESS AND EQUITY-INITIATIVES
• Summer Programmes
 Hack.IT Camp
 STEMForce

39. • Pre School
For decades, many children were
introduced to official schooling upon
entry to first grade at the age of five.
Over the years, it was observed by first
grade teachers that there was a huge
disparity between those students who
would have been exposed to preschool
education and those who were not.
NEW INITIATIVES

40. • Pre School
In some instances, children were entering
the first grade without prior knowledge of
basic skills fundamental to their
academic, social and emotional growth
and development. There was no question
that those children who had entered first
grade with preschool experience had an
advantage over those who did not.
NEW INITIATIVES

41. • Bahamas High School Diploma
The Ministry of Education, Science & Technology
recognizes education as essential to enhancing the
quality of life of the people of The Bahamas. The
specific focus of the Department of Education
therefore is to prepare young people to become
more active, globally competitive, caring and
compassionate citizens with the capacity to
continuously improve the quality of life for
themselves and others.
NEW INITIATIVES

42. • Bahamas High School Diploma
In an effort to ensure that all students have an
opportunity to do this, as well as to graduate, it is the
Ministry’s desire to see more students qualify as
graduates from high school. The Ministry has
therefore introduced a new initiative to assist
students with qualifying to graduate. This
programme is called the Bahamas High School
Diploma which was implemented in September
2014.
NEW INITIATIVES

43. • Student Achievement
The student Achievement Section (SAS) was
established in September 2014 to support the
Bahamas High School Diploma (BHSD) which was
also introduced in September 2014.
Aimed at meeting the diverse needs of students in
the public schools and improving the public
education system in The Bahamas, this section is
data driven and focuses on providing the necessary
intervention to aide in student success.
NEW INITIATIVES

44. • Student Achievement
Data collection, analysis and dissemination
play a pivotal role in meeting the Section’s
mandate.
Research and data will drive the decision
making process relative to policies for the
enhancement of programmes and initiatives
designed for students.
NEW INITIATIVES

45. • Student Achievement
Additionally, intervention in subject areas and
within schools where deficiencies are identified
will be targeted and addressed. Data will also
foster accountability up and down the system.
The Student Achievement Section is a critical
component in the Ministry’s overall objective
of increasing the current high school
graduation rate from approximately 50% to at
least 75% by 2030.
NEW INITIATIVES

46. • Marjorie Davis Institute
The Marjorie Davis Institute was officially
opened to students on January 7th of this year.
At that time, it held on fifth of its present
population. It is comprised of four major
areas:
 Diagnostic and Consultative Services
 Intervention Services
 Training Services
 Research
NEW INITIATIVES

47. • Marjorie Davis Institute
The institute services children with mild learning and
developmental disabilities who represent the largest
proportion of all students with disabilities here in The
Bahamas.
NEW INITIATIVES
It is the perfect environment
to properly diagnose and
assess how our exceptional
children learn and wherever
possible, help them to be
able to matriculate into to
the regular school system.

48. • Mable Walker Professional Development
Institute
The goal of the Mable Walker Professional Development
Institute is to create, in The Bahamas, a cadre of
education sector workers who are better prepared with
the requisite skills to lead and serve, while promoting the
value of ongoing learning and growth for all.
The Institute will offer to all educational professionals,
administrative and support personnel, a variety of
relevant and effective professional development
activities and resources that are based on agreed
performance standards and competences.
NEW INITIATIVES

49. • Mable Walker Professional Development
Institute
The Institute will seek to align policy with practices; build
leadership and capacity to deliver change at all levels;
improve the delivery of services to the public;
particularly students; and generally, to increase
effectiveness and efficiency within the Ministry.
NEW INITIATIVES