Dame Jennifer: 2011 A Successful Year
With positive secondary school exam results, a new intervention programme which is helping to mitigate the chances of at-risk students underperforming in the classroom and a spike in enrollment at the Bermuda College, Dame Jennifer Smith has said 2011 was a successful year for  public education.
In a New Year Message to Ministry staff,  school faculties and  Bermuda’s students, Education Minister Dame Jennifer said the public system intended to build on its recent achievements in the coming months and beyond.
“There is still much to do in 2012, but I know that all of those involved in the education of our children are ready for the challenge,” she said.
The Minister made a point of thanking the trade unions representing educators and support staff for their ongoing commitment to student welfare throughout 2011, saying: Â ”This year would not have been a success without the support of the Association of School Principals [ASP], the Bermuda Union of Teachers [BUT], the Bermuda Public Services Union and the Bermuda Industrial Union. Our Union partners have worked with us on behalf of students.
“We may not agree on everything, but there is a positive and committed partnership focused on what is best for our students and determined to put the proper framework in place to support them.”
Dame Jennifer’s full statement follows below:
As we make preparations to welcome in a New Year, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the Education Officers, Principals, Teachers, support staff in the public education system and the President, faculty and staff of the Bermuda College.
Their collective efforts have resulted in a successful 2011 year for Education.
For the first time in many years, report cards went home with primary school students at the end of the term on Friday 16 December. This was extremely important and ensured that parents had meaningful feedback on their student’s performance.
Individual Education Programmes were introduced in September as part of an Alternative Education Programme and already we are seeing positive signs that the students involved are ‘turning on’ to education and responding to this form of intervention.
A special thank you to each of our private sector partners for the role they are playing in the lives of these students.
With the downturn in the economy, the Bermuda College has seen an increase in enrollment as individuals seek ways to re-tool to make themselves more marketable. The Division of Professional and Career Education [PACE] has launched initiatives to prepare students for rewarding entry-level careers and career advancement opportunities.
This year would not have been a success without the support of the Association of School Principals [ASP], the Bermuda Union of Teachers [BUT], the Bermuda Public Services Union and the Bermuda Industrial Union. Our Union partners have worked with us on behalf of students.
We may not agree on everything, but there is a positive and committed partnership focused on what is best for our students and determined to put the proper framework in place to support them.
I have already publicly talked about the positive examination results, and I must highlight the Commissioner of Education, Mrs. Wendy McDonell, who has been in our schools throughout this past term working with teachers and principals to assist in instruction and have oversight of instruction.
Because of the fact that the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Warren Jones, assumed day-to-day operational responsibility, the Commissioner has the flexibility to address teaching and learning hands-on.
There is still much to do in 2012, but I know that all of those involved in the education of our children are ready for the challenge.
To our principals, teachers, parents, students, Board of Education, Bermuda College Board, and Faculty, Ministry of Education staff and their families and friends, our adoptees and business partners and to all who have supported us during the year – God’s Blessings for the New Year!
We look forward to another successful year in 2012.
Dame Jennifer keep up the good work.
Dame Jennifer, like the rest of elite PLP is out of touch with their people. She is delusional. God save Bermuda if folks like JS survive and run this country with friends like Col Burch.
Finally after thirteen years some promising results. Gee Whiz, some of these kids might even qualify for a two week receipt from Harvard which qualifies them for the PLP self-congratulation machine. Or more plausibly, have standards been lowered yet again?
What will you folks do with yourselves when the PLP win the next election?
Send the rest of my money offshore before they spend it all on their nouveau riche pretensions…
Listening to parents of students who attend the senior schools – education system sucks. There is still a lot to be desired by many including students and for those students who forge ahead, excellent and for those who are not – perhaps they are in need of Individual Education Programmes sooner rather than later. Don’t say this is what is being done until it is actually happening Dame!
I would like to congratulate those involved in the ParentConnect system – if you have not checked it out – do so and you won’t be surprised when you get the next report card or Parent/Teacher/Student meetings…. Child missing class – get an alert, class not in school – get an alert, missing assignments – get an alert and you get the teacher’s e-mails to enable you to keep in touch with them – excellent!!!
“For the first time in many years, report cards went home with primary school students at the end of the term on Friday 16 December.” – uhhh, good job?!?!?
Sorry, that should be student not in school – get an alert…..
It may be improving but we got a long way to go before kudos can be given. The Dame is lining herself up for the next election!
If some of the parents of the students played a part in the what happens at the schools and went to the PTA meetings like they should then hey it would make it much better and if they stop saying not my child that would help as well.
Dame Jennifer, the Teachers and all of the people that help make the Education work keep up the good work.
Apologist
Education sucked for many years however ok, I find this latest news positive. I hope 2012 will be a good year.
lets ask the real people in the know..about the school year…the teachers????? getting teachers to do more with less…my a$$.
I sooo glad that the Dame is happy!
I started at the Bermuda Technical Institute in 1962 at eleven years old and graduated at sixteen with several GCE “O” levels along with a distinction in 1st Year Electrical Installation. If my memory serves me correctly, it had been several years since any student at the school had failed GCE Mathematics.
Fast forward fifty years plus, and most of the 16 year olds that I come into contact with don’t know how to spell; don’t know how to do simple mathematical calculations in their head; nor can they think logically. What’s worse, even at 18 or 20 or 25 years of age, the reality is little different.
So Madame Jennifer, you should be very sad to see how far backward we have gone. So please get off that high horse and face reality – we simply are not teaching our children!