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.
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.