Members of the newly-formed ‘Political Committee for a Shared Vision for Education 2030’ were introduced by Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald.
The group has agreed to work together to develop ideas that will transition into a plan and ultimately policies, which will govern education in our country for the next 15-20 years.
The minister thanked Prime Minister Perry Christie for his support and for sanctioning the meeting.
He also thanked Opposition Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis for his party’s participation on the committee as evidenced by the FNM representatives at the table which included former Education Minister Carl Bethel and MP for St. Anne’s Hubert Chipman.
FNM Senator Desmond Bannister is also a member of the committee.
Leader of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Branville McCartney was represented at the meeting by DNA Chairman Mark Humes.
Minister Fitzgerald also expressed gratitude to the representatives of the government who have been called upon to serve on this committee which included National Security Minister Dr. Bernard Nottage, Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson, Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin, Social Services Minister Melanie Griffin and Chairman of the College of The Bahamas Alfred Sears.
Also serving on the committee is President of the Senate Sharon Wilson.
“Each and every member of this esteemed committee has one thing in common, and that is our bridled passion for the growth and development of our nation. Today, the confirmation of our commitment to this passion is realised in our service to the committee for a Shared Vision for Education 2030,” Minister Fitzgerald noted.
“The goal of The National Education Committee is to develop ideas that will transition into a plan and ultimately policies, which govern education in our The Bahamas for the next 15-20 years.
According to the minister, “It is not a PLP plan. It is not an FNM plan. It is not a DNA plan. It is a Bahamian Plan. It is a plan for the direction that education is to take for the advancement of the Bahamian people.”
The minister further stated that they have signed on to work as a team to tackle the issues and the problems of education so that we can maximise our limited resources. It is hoped that this plan will not be impacted by any change in government and continue regardless of the political party in power so that there is no disruption in policies, plans, programmes and funding.
Minister Fitzgerald stated that, “The time has come for us to arrest the five-year knee-jerk approach to education and map out a course that will take us farther in achieving some basic mandates like to ensure that every student leaves primary school fully; literate and numerate; ensure that all school leavers are able to transition effectively from school into higher education, the labour market and society; enhance the quality of the educational experience offered by providing teachers, other educational professionals and support staff with a variety of relevant and effective professional development activities and other such support services.
The minister pledged on behalf of his colleagues that the committee will present a progress report to the Bahamian people. Although the report may not be completed at the time, it will outline what has been achieved in the time frame awarded. It is his desire to have it the final report concluded before the end of May 2014.
Mr. Bethel told the minister that it is a wonderful initiative, working together for a shared vision for education.
He also stated that the Free National Movement looks forward to joining him in “developing a workable, feasible, practical and practically achievable national shared vision for education”.
