ENGLERSTON MP Glenys Hanna Martin is sworn in as Minister of Education, Technical and Vocational Training.
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
GLENYS Hanna Martin, newly appointed education minister, has pledged to help transform the face of education in the country, noting that too many students have “fallen between the cracks” amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ms Hanna Martin spoke to reporters shortly after being sworn into office yesterday. The longtime Englerston MP was appointed minister of education and technical and vocational training.
Asked about her plans for the ministry, Ms Hanna Martin said she plans to address a number of critical issues pertaining to education.
“Well, I think I’m going to start with the premise that there’s a lot of work to be done to transform the way in which our children are educated and empowered intellectually, culturally and as humans in this country and so I have to begin there and understand what the landscape is,” she said.
“I do have some idea of it. We know that during this pandemic, many, many children have fallen between the cracks, mostly from our working-class communities for various reasons in the remote learning environment and so we’re going to have to look at that very closely to see how we can close that gap because the implications are very serious.
“And then one of the things I would love to see is the history of our people brought into our schools so our children gain an education of who they are and whence they have come and so they understand where they will go as people. I think that’s very important for children to have a sense of being and a sense of pride and consciousness of who they are. Then we have to look at the performance rate which normally attracts annual attention and we have to find a way to stimulate our children (to) excellence,” she said.
Ms Hanna Martin was also asked about the possibility of face-to-face instruction soon resuming in public schools.
In person classes ended in March 2020 due to the pandemic but resumed in a phased approach after the summer break last October.
Last month, the Ministry of Education announced all public schools would open with a virtual learning format due to the current resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the country.
Yesterday, Ms Hanna Martin said she will not be able to say when in person learning will resume until she has spoken with health officials.
“This is a very dangerous virus. It has had a huge toll,” she said. “We know it has no regard for age, gender and we have to be properly advised along with the health officials so I’m not in the position now to speak to that without being properly advised.”
Comments
bahamianson 2 years, 7 months ago
Soooooo, were are the parents, or rather, the sperm donor and egg carrier?
Cobalt 2 years, 7 months ago
I have often criticized the parents of many of these children too. Sometimes it seems as though Bahamian parents expect the government to be responsible for their children. However, the pandemic brought many legitimate concerns and challenges for parents and students alike. In many cases teachers were hard to reach when parents and students had questions. And often times teachers were overwhelmed as well. Sometimes the online system never worked and days were wasted with hour long buffering issues. In some cases students were not able to log on at all. It will be interesting to see how the PLP addresses these issues.
licks2 2 years, 7 months ago
The government is responsible for "these people chirrins". . .them "peoples them" pay their dang taxes. . .their money . . .then "HIRED" the government to "manage" their resources that they supplied to educated their children!! THE DAMN GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM PEOPLES THEM CHILDREN!!
SO. . .THE GOVERNMET HAS A FIDUSARY RESPONSIBILITY TO EDUCATE THEM PEOPLES CHILDREN!!
baclarke 2 years, 7 months ago
Apart from broken families/single parent homes being the biggest issue, society in general has shifted away from home schooling setups to relying on the "system" to train our children. It was inevitable that any shift away from this system would be a complete culture shock and even a disaster.
themessenger 2 years, 7 months ago
It will also be interesting to see if the Bahamian “history” she intends to introduce to our children begins in 1967. Bahamians need to know their history in its entirety not the sanitized version they have been brainwashed with for the last four generations.
tribanon 2 years, 7 months ago
Couldn't agree more. The last thing Bahamian children need are history classes that emphasize the progressive propaganda of the PLP party.
Right now the youngest Bahamian children of school age are in desperate need of a proper education that emphasizes the basic subjects of reading, writing and arithmetic. That serves as the most essential spring board to all that follows when it comes to getting a quality education.
And all teachers in our public education system should be required to go through a formal Teacher's Proficiency Certification Programme every three to five years to evidence they have under gone the necessary up-to-date training for classroom instruction and also accomplished a basic mastery of the subject material they will be expected to teach.
M0J0 2 years, 7 months ago
I am torn myself because you want the kids to be safe but same time many are not able to access this online platform. We have to recognize that the emergency orders has put many out of a job and for many in the Bahamas a dollar is now a prize. Kids need to be in the classrooms, even if its only 2 to 3 days out of the week. Organize and get the necessary safety items and place a covid ambassador in the school because they only riding round.
Dawes 2 years, 7 months ago
I am sure i am going to say this many times in the next few weeks. But what happened to ready to govern from day 1. It now appears we will have to wait a while whilst they find out what actually needs to be done.
tribanon 2 years, 7 months ago
Now you're speaking to the great problem we have in achieving effective and efficient governance from one elected administration to the next. Our current failed civil work force needs to have its house 'cleaned out' at the highest levels. And that includes many of our useless permanent secretaries, assistant permanent secretaries, etc. who have been allowed to remain in office for far too long.
As we all know only too well, our best and brightest Bahamians are either prevented from rising to the top in our corrupt civil service or shy away from a career in civil service altogether, mainly because the promotion and compensation system is not merit based in a way that would properly reward hard work and excellence in achieved results. Our civil service should not reward seniority alone and must become as free as possible from hirings, promotions and generous compensation arrangements based on political patronage.
licks2 2 years, 7 months ago
Amen!!! They have been promoting the jackazzes because of political affiliations far too long! The Public Service Commission can't stop that rot of cronie promotions. . .ya either "let somebody" get on top of ya body. . .be a family member of one of them "big boss" or help "keep down" good peoples them!
sheeprunner12 2 years, 7 months ago
Ministers don't teach the children or run the schools. We give them too much credit.
licks2 2 years, 7 months ago
Don't teach them children true. . .but like heck they "run them schools". . .and erryting else in their ministries!! That is a big part of the problem. . . ministers "tryna" run ministries them!!
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