Connie E. George is new CEO amidst confusion in education system
Connie In! Jillian Out!
Ms George, a Virgin Islander who hails from the eastern end of the main island of Tortola, is to start her first day in the post today June 13, 2016.
She was recommended by the controversial Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn, through his Permanent Secretary. Ms George, who was among the many applicants for the post, was an Education Officer within the Department of Education.
The post was advertised and there was a short list of about five, including the former Acting Chief Education Officer (CEO) Mrs Jillian Douglas-Phillip, who acted in the post from June 2012.
It is also believed that Mrs Douglas-Phillip was snubbed by Minister Walwyn, since no Chief Education Officer could be appointed without the approval of the subject Minister.
Mrs Douglas-Phillip will be re-assigned to a new post within the Education Department, reporting directly to the Permanent Secretary Dr Marcia Potter, according to a senior Ministry Official who spoke to our newsroom on condition of anonymity.
Our newsroom is currently investigating the fallout between Mr Walwyn and Douglas-Phillip as less than a year after Hon Walwyn took office [2011-current] he got rid of the then acting CEO Ms Beverlie Brathwaite and replaced her with the same Jillian Douglas-Phillip.
Education in the VI a mess
From 2011, Education in the Virgin Islands began to suffer from lack of funds and political leadership. In the past three years many parents, teachers, civil society and students have said the education system has gone to the dogs, as it has become too political, and that children can do as they please, while morale among teachers is low.
Many complain that at some public schools in the territory there are lack of basic items, such as water and toilet paper. Fights continue to dominate the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS), and teachers are forced to take funds from their pockets to purchase basic teaching supplies.
Many of the social and sports clubs such as the schools basketball teams and drama clubs received little or no support from the Ministry of Education to go overseas on trips, reverting to the children having to sell bottled water on the streets.
Money taken from Education to build a $1M wall
The Minister for Education, Hon Walwyn, came under fire for taking $1M of public funds before the 2015 general elections to build a small wall around the ESHS that has not done anything to address the safety issues at the school.
When this news site broke the story after Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith told the public of the cost in an answer to a question in Parliament, Hon Walwyn first told the public that his Leader and Minister of Finance Dr Smith had misled the public on the figure in a House of Assembly answer to a question.
Later, the Education and Culture Minister changed his tune and admitted that the wall was a million dollars, but if it had been put to public tender it would have cost tax payers two (2) million dollars. Many in the intellectual and political class have scoffed at the attempt to justify what they have labelled as abuse of tax payers’ funds.
More confusion in education
Recently, it was unearthed that there is no money for building the extra class rooms for the implementation of the new Sixth Form Programme. Former Minister for Education and Culture, Hon Andrew Fahie (R1) has called on the embattled Mr Walwyn to let the current batch of students graduate until the confusion over the prgramme is sorted out but Mr Walwyn has refused.
Hon Fahie also predicts a large high school drop out because of Minister Walwyn’s high handed approach towards exams.
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23 Responses to “Connie E. George is new CEO amidst confusion in education system”
But the education minister is a joke lots of BS talk. Both the Primary and secondary schools has no toilet paper and hand sanitizer for the kids much less the other learining materials.
The teachers are begging for these items.
I am really sorry for the conditions our teachers has to work in with our kids.
We are paying our taxes while our sunshine government waste the monies . I say no to the airport project until the government fix the schools and give our teachers and students a better place to work and study. Stop sleeping Premier. The childrens are our future!!!!!!!!!!!!
God dont like ugly. I live to see she and the other one from west get uprooted from their post. They tell enough l>>> on my family. Next one to go is the Jam down. Barry say you will hear.