Education Law Coming Soon

The Cayman Islands is slated to take a "giant step toward academic and economic excellence" when a new education law is introduced mid-year, says the Minister of Education.

The Ministry of Education announced this week that it is extending the opportunity for public feedback on the draft Education and Training Bill (2004). Plans to finalize the bill were impacted by Ivan and completion has now been set for June 2005.

"The Cayman Islands is a major centre of global finance and economy and our people must be adequately educated and trained to compete in the existing world market, and be prepared for the demands of competitors in the future," said the Honourable Minister for Education, Human Resources and Culture Education, Mr. Roy Bodden. "This proposed legislation is comprehensive and most importantly, it is implementable. It is a giant step toward academic and economic excellence for all people of the Cayman Islands."

Permanent Secretary for Education, Mrs Joy Basdeo, commented: "Copies of the draft legislation are available for public feedback until the end of May. We have already received some constructive feedback and are making the necessary amendments in the interim. However, given the importance of this legislation, the Ministry is keen to give the public a further opportunity to review and comment on the new law."

The drafting regulations for the new law were presented to the Legislative Assembly in June 2004 and made available to the public for feedback. In February 2005 the draft bill was presented to the Legislative Assembly as a white paper for discussion, by Mr Bodden.

The Minister explained that the legislation provides for "a new, modern and comprehensive education and training law, which will provide a blueprint for a varied, relevant and comprehensive educational system, characterised by excellence."

Among the many changes proposed by the new law are:

• the abolition of corporal punishment;
• the establishment of entitlements, rights and responsibilities for students and parents;
• curriculum standards that must be achieved in all schools, as well as guiding principles for the Cayman Islands national Curriculum;
• changes in the provisions for national testing;
• professional rights and responsibilities of teachers and principals;
• The establishment of an Appeals Tribunal;
• The establishment of the Schools' Inspectorate office;
• A new emphasis on technical and vocational education, with the formation of a National Training Board to advise the Minister on policy and practice in this area;
• revised roles and responsibilities of Minister, Chief Education Officer, Chief Inspector and Education Council, for better alignment and a more strategic approach to the leadership and management of the education system.

Copies of the bill are available from the Ministry of Education, in the Government Administration Building.