“Improve The Quality Of The Student Experience”
“As advocates for the children that we are so privileged to teach, we stand willing as always to assist in making this system the envy of the world,” the Bermuda Union of Teachers [BUT] said today, adding that “although much of this report’s findings seem dire, we view this as a prime opportunity to improve the quality of the student experience.”
The BUT’s statement follows after the release of the School Reorganisation [SCORE] Advisory Committee’s report, which the Ministry said was “commissioned to examine the issues of school consolidation or closure, improving the quality and consistency of primary school programming and opportunities for operational efficiencies and cost savings.”
The BUT said, “The Bermuda Union of Teachers acknowledge the time and effort spent giving voice to the state of the schools as this report highlights not only the conditions in which children have been subjected to and the teachers have toiled under to provide a positive school experience, but also the lack of financial support and sound financial planning, the absence of a focus on modern expectations for 21st learners but most of all, it uncovers the absence of a clear vision via a purposefully articulated strategic plan.
“Although much of this report’s findings seem dire, we view this as a prime opportunity to improve the quality of the student experience. In fact, most of the findings were not new to us as a body, as our members have been calling for action for years for many of these issues to be addressed.
“However, in spite of these adverse and less than optimal learning conditions our teachers have always been and still remain resolute in their commitment to provide a schooling experience that each child deserves and our nation requires.
“Despite unwelcoming conditions in this report, the BUT continues to ensure that our children are receiving a first class education. Our educators are dedicated. They have demonstrated creative resourcefulness and sacrificial responsiveness in the worst of conditions to create legacies of success, for our children.
“With great joy and delight, our teachers have sought to give the best education possible while advocating for better educational conditions.
“For anyone to focus on scenarios that shift, close and reorganize the schools is to miss the point of the whole report! We cannot ignore the main takeaway of this report, namely, our schools need to be fixed! Let it be clear that the Bermuda Union of Teachers has never been adverse to school closure. However, what we vehemently advocate for is to make ‘every school, a great school.’
“The data captures a very compelling and telling reality of the current state of our public primary schools. It reveals that all of our public schools are below an acceptable level to provide students with a positive school experience in terms of the physical environments in which they receive daily instruction. In addition, limited access to 21st century technology and a lackluster IT infrastructure creates a less than optimal learning environment.
“It is our position that the state of schools and the need for immediate remediation should have been the sole focus of the Minister’s public address and his current and only emphasis. However, these issues seem to be lost in the cacophony of views and opinions on the proposed school closure scenarios that were shared.
“Two weeks ago, parents and educators wanted clarity over the question of school closures. The Minister’s lack of definitive direction in reference to the registration process and school closures is concerning as we all awaited a clearly articulated plan of action. Unfortunately, this was not to be.
“In making the announcement to continue registration while saying that there still may be school consolidation or closures for this year, the Minister has opted to close these schools by graphic default!
“This double speak is making parents hesitant to register their children at a school that has been listed for closing. It is also causing more confusion and contradiction than providing a better way forward. We had hoped that he would have given glimpses of a concrete plan of action.
“Therefore, the BUT implores the Minister to address these blind spots immediately. We expect the Minister to deliver a template that drives excellence and supports 21st century school facilities and programs through a well thought out strategic plan and commitment to see it through. We do so because our children and their parents, even this entire nation, demand and deserve better.
“We call on R. Wayne Scott, and the entire OBA government to do the noble, just, and moral thing. The time has come to give public education the same enthusiasm and priority as it has been doing for big business. We charge the government to clarify how it plans to turn these bad times around.
“As advocates for the children that we are so privileged to teach, we stand willing as always to assist in making this system the envy of the world.”
Amazing what you will tell people what you will do when you JOB is on the chopping block.
You did not do it before so why should we believe you now??
AH! you need more money,I forgot.
To many teachers in to many schools and not enough students.
There is no “MONEY” as we csnnot keep borrowing $220MILLION Dollars per year to pay you.
Deal with it now as futher on it will only get worse,like no PENSIONS at all for anybody.
Many teachers have been let go already. Some of these teachers were the ones who helped children who had difficulties grasping certain subjects. Instead of slowing the whole class down or causing a distraction the children were taught in a different room with these teachers who helped them catch up and in the higher grades join their class again for those subjects. Giving money to a quality teacher is an investment in the future.
We give a heck of a lot more money to our government ministers than our teachers and in return we don’t get scholars we get a lot of hot air which we have enough of already. What we have too many of is government ministers. It’s what John Barritt has been on about for years and it would have been fixed if he was still in the OBA but certain members made sure that didn’t happen.
I’m tired of the same old drivel from the Unions and others who seem to think the Government needs to wave money and all will be well in education. They get a lot of money already and always have. It’s time to be honest! Why are we paying such high wages to Senior Ministry officials yet we get nothing from them year in and year out. Do we think those PHDs make a difference? Not one bit! Money helps but doesn’t change the culture of unaccountability. Set contracts with time limits on all senior positions and attach a measurable goal for those Directors. For example, give the math guru Dr. Matthews 3 years to increase math scores by 10% or fire him. Do the same with Dr. Simmons for literacy. Unless those paid handsomely for the direction and results have to really work for those high salaries with outcomes no money thrown at education by any Government will make a difference!
Bermuda Union of Teachers, well said. Here we have a government that is NOT willing to look at the real problem, which is their financial turmoil. Instead of really fixing the problem of WHY the government is in debt, they are pointing fingers at other parts of the community. It is time for the government of Bermuda to have a SCORE report, also known as an audit and reassess changes they can make. Money is the driving force here, but cutting EDUCATION is irresponsible. Someone who is educated would see this. This is a much bigger picture than closing a school, this is being RESPONSIBLE for the youth of Bermuda and the FUTURE of Bermuda. Where are the priorities falling? How much is being spent on doing things to please others, aka: big companies, big tourism. Should we not be taking care of our own country and citizens first?! PERHAPS the ministry should look at having a pay cut and looking at ways to reduce their spending on frivolous things. This is not a business merger people, this is a child’s education and we as a whole need to take EDUCATION OFF the chopping block!
Anyone who dislikes this…please do leave a comment. I would welcome a rebuttal. You clearly do not have a child in a primary public school. Perhaps you are a Minister of something or other and do not want a pay cut?
Why do private schools offer a far better education than government schools and at a much lower cost per student? Part of the reason is not having to fund the dinosaur that is the Department of Education: mostly Berkeleyites who ended up there because of their ineffectiveness in the classroom, the Peter principle personified. Mentoring in private schools is done by the senior staff, unlike the public system where mentore are appointed at considerable cost but with little accountability. Security guards? Those roles would be filled by the head or deputy head accompanied by a beefy member of the PE department in private schools. Government schools hire security guards.Private school teachers have to perform or they are gone. Government teachers have a job for life,regardless of performance. Private schools are run like a business, lean and efficient. Government schools are run like any other government department, little accountability and minimal efficiency. Sad but true.
The private school education is not better than the government schools.
The government student have been tasked with learning MORE.
The government students have to learn the cambridge curriculum as well as other curriculums were as the private schools only do cambridge.
If both sectors were taught the same things, we would yield the same result.
Dreamer .