Minister Clarifies: School Consolidation Talks
“I wish to clarify the statement I made last evening to avoid any doubt and assure PTAs and the general public that middle and high schools are not being considered as part of the consolidation discussion,” Minister of Education Wayne Scott said today [Mar 6].
The total allocated budget for the Ministry of Education in 2015/2016 is $127.13 million, which represents an overall decrease of $6.7 million or 5% compared to the 2014/2015 budget allocation.
Last month in the House of Assembly, Minister Scott said that the budget reduction coupled with a decline in student enrolment has “left us little choice but to consider restructuring the way public education is delivered.”
The 2015/2016 Budget for all Preschools is just under $5 million, with the 10 preschools in the Bermuda Public School System serving 403 children. The total budget allocation for the 18 public primary schools is around $30.4 million, and in September 2014, enrolment for the 18 primary schools was 2,594 students.
The total budget allocation for the five Middle Schools is just over $17 million, and in September 2014, enrolment for middle schools totalled 1,028. The two Senior Secondary Schools service close to 1,200 students with just under 200 staff, and have been allocated a combined budget of just over $23 million.
During the question period at the PTA meeting last night, Minister of Education Wayne Scott stated that middle and seniors schools would also be considered for consolidation.
However today, Minister Scott said, “I wish to clarify the statement I made last evening to avoid any doubt and assure PTAs and the general public that middle and high schools are not being considered as part of the consolidation discussion. As I have previously stated, at this time we are considering consolidating some preschools and primary schools.”
Minister Scott added, “I am very grateful for the many parents and teachers who attended the meeting last night. Their feedback was just what we needed to start this consultation process.
“As I stated at the meeting, this is the first step in the consultation process and we will have many more meetings with other key stakeholders before any decisions are made. We value and need your input as this will set the foundation for developing a common understanding of both the challenges and possibilities that lay ahead.
“I encourage parents who were not able to attend meeting to please submit their concerns and ideas to us in writing.”
The Public School Reorganization Consultation document is available at moed.bm and the deadline for written submissions is March 20.
I wish to clarify.
Why the hell did he not say that in the beginning.
Who else needs a rum.
Get it right.
Cross the “t’s”
Dot the “I’s”
Are you serious? Flip flop government! One term government! Poor Wayne and Craig! Only puppets in the grand scheme of things. When will our brothers learn?
Unfortunately they will learn the hard way!
Surrogates have been around since the first shipment come to the West.
haha…this is not a clarification.
it is a correction, or a retraction, but definitely not a clarification. basically Minister Scott either misspoke and is now retracting what he said, and saying what he should have said…or perhaps he did mean what he said, but based on backlash has changed his mind a la Minister Cannonier and the recycling facility.
This OBA government is surely in a state lately.
I smell AGShow, recycling, immigration, then again the oba did advise us, that they lie and make no apologies, or was it contradict. Oh well means the same thing .
@ Rhonda and all others: “After defecating everyone has to wipe their butt.”
At least the One Bermuda Alliance fessed-up to their errors… unlike the Opposition Party, (Progressive Labour Party)who fail to tell the people where’s the unaccounted for millions of dollars
Raymond look mate , your OBA are no better then the PLP …They are really out in left field…I for one wish just once that Wayne Scott be sharper then the dullest knife in the drawer ..he over his head!
Last night he went for the whole hog !
Probley got in trouble with the big boss who seems to be running the show right now. Do as I say.
Thxs to the parents and teachers who showed up last night. Their feedback was just what they needed. …. Hahaha… Really! Do you really listen to the people? No!!!
OBA’s new strategy – make statements about poorly made decisions and wait. Then retract the statement so that everyone’s too confused to contribute to the discussion!
These Ministers are making me nervous. They are overpaid, full time, and for the most part incapable of obtaining facts before going public.
How often does the caucus meet? Do they have in depth discussions?Do the Ministers understand their roles?
The Government must do better!
Why dont they just cut out the middle school altogether and go back to how it used to be …primary and high school, 11plus exam and call it a day.
Which perhaps 99% of the current HOA personnel attended and they all do not seem any worse for the wear.
Will also lead to a more cross diversification of students mingling with other Bermudians and avoid some of the social ills that we are currently facing.
May not be 100% assured to work but the current system definitely is not working.
I totally agree. Some districts have already cut out their middle school systems.
We should be wary of this. Personally, I feel the bigger the school, the easier for kids to slip between the cracks. There is some great research out there on how we can best reform our public schools. Give this some thought:
http://www.nationalreview.com/agenda/360933/lessons-new-york-citys-most-effective-charter-schools-reihan-salam
http://www.hamiltonproject.org/files/downloads_and_links/THP_Fryer_Charters_DiscPaper.pdf
Not a bad idea to consolidate the pre schools.
We need the transfer exam back, one size to save funds don’t fit all. Those students that perform above average need a place to spread their wings, those requiring extra attention to meet their full potential need the same. But not in the same class room setting.
If you knew the real reason why the 11+ was abolished you wouldn’t have made that post.
How old are you ? Were you around back then ? And if you were you have selective amnesia.
Yes I took the 11 plus / transfer exam and so did my children.
The brain pool of OBA ministers to choose from appears to be no better than the PLP camp.I’m intrigued to find out what our Premier secretly thinks of the ministers he has to work with outside of Grant Gibbons of course.
I believe it’s the fright of who’ll not be hired come the following school year that’s a major problem we have amongst the teachers
I also agree with “Aquafina”, eliminate the Middle Schools. During them times when the youngsters had others of different ages attending their schools it often led to them emulating their seniors.
what interest do you have in public education…oh please blindly following a lost group….speak out when they do wrong…explain!