Education Ministry Video Series: Latoya Pearman

The Ministry of Education has launched a new video series entitled Stakeholder Stories, which features interviews with member of the community about education reform in Bermuda, with the first video featuring Latoya Pearman, a mother of three children.

A spokesperson said, “The Ministry of Education has launched a new video series today called ‘Stakeholder Stories’ – featuring short two to three-minute interviews with parents, teachers, principals, past students and members of the public, on the importance of education reform in Bermuda.

“The Ministry asked each participant to share their views on the need for transformation in our education system so that it better meets the needs of all students. The goal with the series is two-fold: to stimulate discussion around this important national issue and to encourage people to submit their feedback on the consultation for the proposal for parish primary schools, taking place between now and Friday, March 12, 2021.

“In this first video, Mrs. Latoya Pearman, a mother of three children in the public education system [one child in middle school and two in primary school], shared how much society has changed today.”

“We know how the requirements and needs of our students have changed over the years and I really think education has to change with it,” Mrs. Pearman said.

“In my personal experience, so many kids are doing well in public school, but they’re certainly not the exception. I think there are a lot of challenges in public school, but if we reform the system then we’re going to be able to meet students and their families in a better place, where we can encourage them and help them to feel validated.”

She said her hope was that school could be a joyful place for today’s public school students, as it is for many others.

When asked what concept from the Ministry of Education’s proposal for parish primary schools could be most beneficial for Bermuda’s children, Mrs. Pearman said it was the “community engagement and partnership” aspect.

“Bermuda has really struggled in garnering community support of public schools and the public education system overall,” she said. “The community has really stepped away from education as a public good. While some individuals have benefited from that, the society overall has not benefited. I think if we come together as a community and support public schools, Bermuda can only be better for it.”

Mrs. Pearman continued: “One of the things that I’m always reminded of is a popular internet meme that I’ve seen many times over the years, that: ‘If you want to go fast, you go alone, but if you want to go far, you go together’. And that’s how I think about the public education system in Bermuda. We have so far to go as a community and as a country, that we simply can’t do it one by one. We have to go together. It’s the only way.”

The Ministry noted that they will continue with its series of public meetings in various parishes to discuss the proposal over the next two weeks. Due to COVID-19, these meetings will be held virtually via the ZOOM video-conferencing app on the following dates and times:

“In order to ensure wide access and participation, the parish meetings will also be broadcast on YouTube, Facebook Live and CITV. The CITV schedule for parish meetings is as follows: Thursday, February 18; Monday, February 22; Thursday, February 25; and Thursday, March 4.

“To register for the parish meetings visit here; those experiencing difficulty registering can email comms@moed.bm. To submit your feedback on the Ministry’s Parish Primary School Proposal, visit www.moed.bm or visit here.”

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