Comments on: PLP On Public School Education Exam Results

By: Dr. Gibbons Responds To Shadow Minister - Bernews.com : Bernews.com

Dr. Gibbons Responds To Shadow Minister - Bernews.com : Bernews.com — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 16:50:03 +0000

[...] this week, Ms. Foggo said, “In March, 2013 the PLP announced that, should it be returned to government, it will dismantle [...]

By: godson

godson — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 08:19:58 +0000

Whats up with the blame game? It was plp…no….ubp….no…nlp…no…oba….no….kbb….its OUR kids….OUR country….OUR problem. …OUR future is at risk…WE need to fix it….START with reviewing the standard and attitudes of so.e of our teachers. ..Ive heard numerous teachers state that the “hate” their job, but love working with kids…we need teachers who “love” their jobs….

By: Raymond Ray

Raymond Ray — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 22:17:02 +0000

Back in the days when we had schools like the former Bermuda Technical Institute we had youngsters admitted at 12 years old while there had been also others that were in their late teens. This had been for myself an influence, as I’m sure for countless others also. Some of the senior students were principals / head-boys, the school policemen to us that were at that time youngsters Believe me, we did respect them and somewhat emulated them.
Today we no-longer have that influence in our schools and just maybe it is time to reintroduce that form of teaching…It will not only improve the youngsters capabilities academically but will, (to a great extent) make them more discipline.

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 14:42:37 +0000

Don’t forget that we also spend almost $4000 MORE per student per year than the most expensive private school. Where is all of that money going? St David’s somewhere most likely to pay a bunch of seat warming paper shufflers.

Oh yeah, & where are the parents, BOTH of them, in all of this?

Go to a private school for a parent teachers meeting vs a public school & see how full the hall is.

By: Xaxa

Xaxa — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 13:32:05 +0000

There’s really not too much to celebrate here. A passing grade is a grade from A to C period. With that, the OVERWHELMING majority of our kids have failed. It’s really not time for politicking from either party. Let’s just roll up our sleeves and get to work. Parents need to start demanding accountability first from their own kids. If you haven’t seen notes, homework or projects in a few days, call your kid on it, and if need be contact the teacher!
Schools need the freedom to hire the best and fire the rest. Bermuda is in the world’s highest teacher salary bracket, we can and should have only the best at that price.

By: Build a Better Bermuda

Build a Better Bermuda — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 13:03:12 +0000

Exactly, what needs to be done is a development of a cohesive transitional curriculum that will help students move from lower, through middle and into senior school. The important note should be that not all students learn in the same fashion, so multiple strategies need to be employed, with early identification of students’ learning patterns so that they can be kept engaged and taught in the most effective way for them. Ultimately, whether we have 2 school levels or 3 has very little impact, the important factors is having an education system that can engage the students and a strong family support for that at home. For that later, there is the sad fact that there are actually parents out there that tell their children that an education won’t get them anything, or that expects the education system to install discipline and direction in them. There are also unfortunately students who’s parent or parents have to work too many hours and aren’t able to be at home enough to provide them with that important parental support. Strong family and out of school support is one of the most critical factors in our children’s education and is the one factor that government can’t control. While government is responsible for ensuring the curriculums are well developed, the teachers are able to engage and teach, we are responsible for ensuring our children are as engaged in their education out of school as they are in.

By: Hmmm

Hmmm — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 12:12:07 +0000

The PLP are a disgrace.

By: Southampton #29

Southampton #29 — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 10:30:04 +0000

UBP idea completely it was handed to the PLP. Facts straight please.

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 10:14:50 +0000

That was to do with Cambridge, great first step by the PLP,now to bring back the concept of the 11+exam, students should have to strive to attend the once prestigious Berkeley.

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 10:10:15 +0000

How many has the Oba had in less than 2 years

By: Creamy

Creamy — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 01:08:00 +0000

There was no so-called ‘statement’ in March 2013 saying they would do away with middle schools. It’s not on the PLP website, and actually that month the Education part of the budget was passed in parliament with little discussion. Sen Rabain at the time, in the budget debate, praised the new government for “continuity” and “avoiding the temptation for wholesale change”.

Either Foggo is full of sh1t, or Rabain had no idea what his party was supposedly announcing at the time. Either one is equally likely.

Link to the statement, or it didn’t happen.

By: Creamy

Creamy — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 00:45:08 +0000

Some fiction in there. Far from saying it was a bad idea, Jennifer Smith was part of the committee that approved of the establishment of middle schools and Cedarbridge.

And if they felt it was a bad system, it is strange that they waited until March 2013, 6 years after the Hopkins Report and 4 months after losing the election, before saying so.

By: Impressive

Impressive — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 23:42:51 +0000

You need to do some research before you make statements. The Middle School system was implemented in the late nighties, through the foresight of two former UBP Education Ministers; Dr. Clarence Terceira and Gerald Symonds. It must be noted that the opposition at the time (PLP) suggested on numerous occasions that it was a bad idea and it would lower the standard of education. Not long after the Middle School system was implemented (roughly 18 months) the PLP won Government for the first time in 1998. Now I ask you, should the PLP have completely overhauled the education system again, after the former government had just spent millions of dollars changing the system that had not long before been initiated, or would they right to stay with it and attempt to make it work out???>

By: Toodle-oo

Toodle-oo — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 22:54:02 +0000

You all need to do your homework on the 11+ exam and how it lead to the point where we are now , thanks to politics , in terms of the current education structure and middle schools .

By: Marge

Marge — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 21:57:27 +0000

How many education ministers did the PLP have in their reign ? Foggo, you have lost touch with the real word in regards to education….

By: flikel

flikel — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 21:10:14 +0000

No sir/madam. The PLP did not come up with the middle school concept. This was conceived and implemented under the UBP.

By: aceboy

aceboy — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 21:01:55 +0000

Totally agree. Just like Berkley…the PLP threw money (lots and lots of it) at bricks and mortar and kept the same teachers and the same system and yet expected different results.

By: John doe

John doe — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 19:04:32 +0000

It was the Plp who came up with the plan to have middle schools they should have kept it just the way it was. Now they have concerns. Smh everyone wants to play the blame game and nobody would stand and take the blame when something goes wrong. That goes for Both parties

By: aceboy

aceboy — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 18:13:01 +0000

In just a few short sentences Ms. Foggo demostrates that her party is completely out of touch…with reality. Hopkins report was completed in 2007. Over 7 years ago…and while the PLP were in power. What did they do? nothing.

By: LiarLiar

LiarLiar — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 17:47:55 +0000

I still don’t completely understand what will be different if there were no middle schools.

The system will be staffed by the same teachers and overseen by the same set of civil servants and learning the same curriculum. Right?

What will improve with the removal of the middle school system and why wasn’t it completed as the Hopkins report was issued eons ago?

By: Sickofantz

Sickofantz — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 17:41:42 +0000

Something has to be done the IGCSE results (which are the only important ones), are appalling. Bermuda’s children deserve better teaching. They can never expect to play a role in international business if they don’t pass IGCSE maths. The pass rate is A-C.

By: hmmm

hmmm — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 17:38:57 +0000

You had 14 years to dismantle the School system. YOU DID NOTHING !!!!!