Education is in disarray- Hon Andrew A. Fahie
According to Hon Fahie, who posed several stinging questions to Hon Walwyn during the First Sitting of the Second Session of the Third House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands on September 22, 2016, education was given no priority and because the 12th Grade Programme was prematurely introduced other students are being affected due to lack of adequate staffing for the lower grades.
Meanwhile, Hon Walwyn refused to answer a number of direct questions from Hon Fahie on the 12th Grade Programme as well as the controversial million dollar wall around Elmore Stoutt High School.
One of Hon Fahie’s concerns was that the 12th Grade Programme was on the table for more than three years yet all systems were not adequately put in place, including the required classrooms, which Hon Walwyn blamed on lack of funds.
Education placed @ bottom of priority list?
In a press release to the media, Hon Fahie said it was obvious from the answers to questions in the HOA of September 22, 2016 that the agenda deemed urgent in education was placed to the bottom.
“They were given no priority by this government. From 3yrs ago the Minister of Education stated that his government will be adding an extra year to our education system. No one disagreed with the initiative in principle. Hence the necessary funding to do so should have already been secured. The same Minister of Education has been publicly pleading for more money from his government in order to address his initiatives in education that were announced years ago.”
According to Hon Fahie, instead of standing his grounds for these funds to be allocated to the urgent needs in education, instead the same Minister of Education sat in Cabinet and agreed to approve, among other things while leaving the urgent needs of education wanting.
Where did the money for education go?
Among the “other things” mentioned by Hon Fahie that received funding while education suffered were $30 million extra to the Cruise Pier Project, which he said continues to have no end in sight in terms of the final cost as it has moved from $51 million to $83.9 million and counting; Seven million dollars to BVI Airways for services that are in question and could have been negotiated more prudent and with the inclusion of local people; An unbudgeted million dollar school wall around only a small part of ESHS that Hon Fahie said is clearly in violations of “ALL financial Regulations and Acts and the Protocols for Effective Financial Management” but done as a vote getter to the expense of our children educators urgent needs in education; Diverted $8 million from the loan approved by the House of Assembly for the Sewerage Project at East End/Long Look to the Cruise Pier Project without the approval of the House of Assembly and without the Minister of Education insisting that some of the funds be allocated to the urgent education needs.
Hon Walwyn had also stated that the 12th Grade Programme was adequately staffed, however, Hon Fahie said this was at the expense of the other children at the lower levels.
“All this and more while the high school remain short of teachers and the entire education system is in disarray in many areas especially equipment, human resources, etc. Although there is a need in education it does not give the Minister a license to proceed in a manner that violates all financial rules especially the one signed by his government on the 23rd April, 2012 with the UK. It has changed the way government projects are done and managed.”
Hon Fahie said while the Minister being his usual self is trying to shift the focus, from the many questionable financial conduct at hand, the financial rules are there to govern all and not just some.
“We all want what's best for our youth, for education and our people but we also want transparency, due diligence, accountability and value for money in all financial conduct no matter the urgency of the need,” Hon Fahie said in the press release on September 22, 2016.
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17 Responses to “Education is in disarray- Hon Andrew A. Fahie”
I had to purchase a chair for my child to sit on in school.
First time this is happening in the HISTORY of the BVI.
Stop being so pig headed and humble yourself. Stop allowing one vote to cloud your judgement. Get out of the way of the people who really do the work and let them do it the way it should be done.