The Ministry of Education is on a revolutionary move, progressing to a more innovative 21st century classroom with a virtual classroom experience with Family Island schools.
Minister of Education Jeffery Lloyd said distance education is one of the components of major educational reform.
Having recognized the challenges of the ministry faces with teachers, the Minister said that the ministry is aggressively recruiting teachers as a part of the education reformation.
“We recognize the challenges that we have in populating our teaching cohort, particularly the Family Islands, that is going to be addressed, first of all, by more aggressively recruiting, but secondly by digitizing the system which we are now already on the way,” Mr. Lloyd said.
As far as digitizing, Mr. Lloyd reiterated the ministry’s move to have all public schools computerized.
“Last September we signed a contract with BTC; we signed a contract in January with Cable, and in February with Walkers Industry. Within the next 12 to 18 months, the entire system is going to be digitized.
“One of the most important components of that is distance education which will enable teachers here in New Providence to be able to teach those classes in New Providence and at the same time students in those Family Islands that do not have the benefit of such subjects, for instance Math or Science or Foreign language.
“So, those reforms are already on the way,” Mr. Lloyd said.
As for reforms with the Ministry of Education’s curriculum, Mr. Lloyd said reform to that respect has begun for pre and primary schools.
“We are reforming for instance our curriculum. You know it has to be 21st Century ready; we have to be relevant to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
“Already, Ms. Sharon Poitier who is Director of Curriculum in our Ministry is addressing that, meeting of course with the primary school and the preschool curriculum reducing the number of subjects in the primary schools, [that is] very important.
To further enhance educators, teachers and administration are also undergoing a professional development course facilitated by the ministry.
