St George’s Prep PTA Concerned About Plans
The St. George’s PTA are here to expressed their “deep concern” that “just two weeks before the registration of the 2024/25 school year, the Ministry of Education announced without any consultation with us, that they would be discontinuing Primary 1 enrollments at select schools including St. George’s Prep.”
A St George’s PTA spokesperson said: “We, the St. George’s PTA are here to express our deep concern around the Ministry of Education’s recent announcements to accelerate their educational reform, and the impacts that it will have on us, that have not been considered.
“On November 6th, just two weeks before the registration of the 2024/25 school year, the Ministry of Education announced without any consultation with us, that they would be discontinuing Primary 1 enrollments at select schools including St. George’s Prep.
“For clarity, whilst we know that East End has been selected as the Parish Primary School, we have advocated since April 2023 that we are against transitioning any of our students into an environment that will be under construction for their safety and wellbeing, and to minimise disruption.
“After meeting with our student body, we sent a letter to both the Department of Education and the Ministry of Education to express our concerns along with a detailed list of questions that we would like answered in an effort to get clarity around the plans for the development of the St. George’s Parish school which have yet to be disclosed, and why we have continued to be denied of the opportunity to adequately prepare for the proposed transition.”
The spokesperson continued: “The Minister of Education, Diallo Robain and the Permanent Secretary, having received the letter, have expressed their willingness to meet with us in short order, and have extended the enrolment deadline to December 6th.
“Although a meeting date has not yet been determined, we look forward to those discussions and hope that they can reconsider their decisions.
“Our school has always been a place of growth, learning, and welcoming to the St. George’s community, and we believe it should remain a cornerstone for our children’s development, until the new Parish Primary site has been completed.
“We invite everyone; not just the St. George’s Prep community, but all schools and anyone who cares about the wellbeing and safety of children within the Bermuda education system to let their voices be heard at The House of Assembly which currently meets at Veritas Place, across from the Dame Lois Building at 4pm this Friday, November 29th.
“Please see attached letter that was sent to both the Ministry and Department of Education.”
The full St. George’s Prep Education Reform Email to PS follows below [PDF here]:
Everyone wants change and reform until it’s not the exact change and reform that they want. It is tiresome.
True that. Kind of like the “change” they were looking for and then what they got when they voted in the PLP .
Yes, people want change and reform so that our kids can benefit from the improvements to the ciriculum, new teaching methods, new tech, support services, and higher standards and performace goals for teachers.
The frustration with most people is that the primary goal seems to be on closing schools! Im prove schools and people will revert back to public schools. No parent wants to pay for private schooling! No are willing to work longer to put their kids in private school DESPITE the fact that they can school their kids for free!
Closing multiple schools is not reform and it is not the change people asked for! It is what the government want to do to save money. Period!
Sadly, Marta, there are not enough primary school age children in Bermuda to justify keeping the schools open.
This is not simply a matter of Government closing schools so it can use the buildings for other purposes, it is a matter of Government closing schools because there are not enough pupils to populate those schools.
The more pressing issue should be why did so many people leave Bermuda and how can we get them back?
I maybe a little ahead of things. Government is closing schools. Have they thought about the times we are currently in. War is breaking out in Europe and where will they put the children whose parents may come back home to get away from the War.
I think they should take this into consideration. It may take Government thinking long term on this issue of closing schools now.
Bermuda’s population contracted significantly in 2008 for a number of reasons (some domestic and some beyond our control) and it has never really recovered. I do not expect our population to grow significantly anytime soon, nor do I think the closure of schools is a knee-jerk reaction. Government has waited 16 years for our population to recover. It has not.
Just another absolute C$ck up by this plp government …they have proven without doubt they are clueless and lack total understanding of the consequences of their decisions. They dont care because if they did we would be working on improving the product, rather change for the sake of change ,at least it gives the impression that they are doing something to the flock . Bermuda suffers again by lack of vision and real solutions. I really dont care who wins the next election but it has to not be the plp.
PLP = Tomorrow a Bermuda , no Bermudian will want or can afford to live in
This Givernment can’t think for US. They have no plans for future of Bermuda. They ask for OUR input ONLY to ignore it and go ahead and do what they want, as they have been doing. BERMUDA, “X” brings change. We want progressive thinkers and planners.. Seniors are suffering in many ways, our unemployed parents are struggling, being evicted like never before. How does one explain the situation to their children. Cut the red tape on homeless housing, be realistic and compassionate to every situation. Dept. Of Education…senseless decisions. How many have children attending public schools with nooses hanging around the schools. Questions, IS this Government seriously NOT concerned about our homeless families, uneducated children, hungry, sick children.Why allow closed school facilities to fall apart. Seniors going hungry, being evicted, no insurance because pension barely covers everything else??? No increases for Politicians for twenty years!!