BPTSA Addresses Learning Support Shortages
The Bermuda Parents Teachers Students Association [BPTSA] recently organized a working group to acquire better information on the reported lack of learning support for the upcoming year, with several resulting recommendations aiming to solve the problem.
A spokesperson said, “This working group had a frank and constructive conversation with the Director of Health, Mr. David Kendell and his team on July 17, 2015. Given the information that was shared, I would like to address some aspects of the press release submitted by the Ministry of Health on September 3, 2015.
“The recruitment process takes too long. We need personnel now. The consistent delivery of services to this group of students is crucial to their development. The Department of Health must be able to expeditiously address any further personnel shortages.
“There was a lack of learning support for the 2014 school year, our children are behind where they should be and thus we need more resources for 2015/2016.
“It would be helpful to know ‘of those therapist that have ‘moved on with their careers’ – how many moved on because of the non-renewal of their contracts? Just the facts please. For example: it is stated that ‘although wait lists do not currently exist…’ but because children did not get the necessary services last year – then they are still waiting this year.
“Parents, you have a role to play. Please take your children to the Child Development Department to have your child screened as early as possible. We can not expect the Department of Health to magically formulate the staffing numbers – they need to know who is coming into the system.
“Parents, you have to take the training that is going to be offered. The Health Department’s team has committed to getting more training for us. We must do our part at home.
“In closing, the Minister of Health has in her possession a proposal for increasing the learning support infrastructure as prepared by a concerned parent.
“This proposal has been passed onto the Allied Health Professionals’ local governing bodies for evaluation and we hope to be hearing their assessment of this system in due course.”
What is this Island coming to ?