Private schools say no to Hon Walwyn's additional year
Apart from the government secondary schools, the VI boasts of having three other secondary schools, Cedar International School, Seventh-day Adventist School and St George’s School all of which this news site had dialogue with on the topic.
While the Seventh-day Adventist School had no comment to offer on the subject as they were not ready to go public with their position several parents of students of that school has indicated to this news site that they are not supporting such a move.
“We pay our monies for our children to attend that private school so the decision is ours not the board but I am sure that the board is not going to be going with an additional year. They do listen to us and put our recommendations first,” said one parent.
The Principal of the school said that during the course of the new week June 15 – 20, 2014 she would be in a position to make a statement on the school’s stance.
Over at Cedar College Principal Scott A. Crawford said that they are in a unique position as an international school and one that carries the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme. He explained that as is currently students attend Cedar School can be in up to the age of 18 years because of the design of their programme.
On the other hand St George’s Secondary Division has made their position public that they will definitely not be adding another year to their school programme.
Speaking with this news site Chairman of the Board of Directors Mr Gerard St. C. Farrara, QC said that they have already made their position clear to the Ministry of Education. He said as recent as yesterday June 12, 2014 they had physical audience with the MfE to cement their position of not supporting the additional year.
He said that letters of their position were circulated to parents, a copy of which this news site managed to secure.
According to the letter a special meeting of the board was called on May 7, 2014 where the decision was taken not to implement an additional year. “As mentioned in our meeting, we have already devised a plan which will enable our secondary division to continue to provide a holistic education over a five year period, preparing our students for both the national and CXC examinations,” states the letter.
Many are of the opinion that Minister Hon. Walwyn is proceeding with the changes despite the non-support from parents and teachers who all believe that the system is not ready for such a move. Those changes are set for implementation when the new academic year begins.
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23 Responses to “Private schools say no to Hon Walwyn's additional year”
If it wasn't for we the parents, they wouldn't have students in their high school.
Those that attend the Cedar Shchool knows that when they finish from there. They can go to any college in the Us. Unlike the Elmore Stoutt HIgh school, that you got to the community college first. Then apply to any universities in the US.
So, Cedar school has one over the schools in the BVI.
I'm not going to insult minister Walwyn for his efforts to improve the education in the BVI because improvement is needed. However, this extra school year won't solve anything as you will just be adding one more year of a c...upt educational system. One more year of this c..p isn't going to do anything but anger the students and parents this decision is affecting.
Leaving this important responsibility to the television and then to day care personnel is not good for the child. What is happening the child is learning too much in these day care and television so that when he or she reaches stage 1 they are too advanced and has to repeat the things they learn