Staff Writer

#China, August 5, 2023 – Cuba and China have made new ties to enhanced its cooperation in higher education. This comes as new cooperation agreements were signed with Chinese counterparts during a visit to China by Miriam Nicado García, rector of the University of Havana.

This development is in-line with Garcia’s aim, that is to expand collaboration between the Universities of the two countries as she expressed in an interview with Prensa Latina.

While in China, she took part in the Global Forum of University Presidents which focused on the debate on the work of universities after Covid-19 as well as the challenges to bring about innovation, science and technology in the development of countries.

Additionally, she had talks with Zhou Zuoyu, vice president of the Beijing Pedagogical University of humanities and social sciences, which has a high development in scientific and technological innovation.

As she continues her agenda, Nicado will take part in other meetings with the universities of Hebei and Liaocheng which can potentially lead more development.

“We have the projection of creating joint centers and colleges with the aim of teaching common careers in China with ours (…),” she said.

The Forum is a wide-reaching international academic conference held in recent years by China’s higher education circles.  It’s aim is to building a platform for exchange and dialogue for the presidents of the world’s top universities.

Staff Writer

#Guyana, July 12, 2023 – Spanish will be made a compulsory subject in schools throughout Guyana come September, 2023; this was announced by the President of Guyana on Wednesday July 12^th; it comes as the country is addressing a shortage of nurses by turning to Cuba.

To aid in a successful transition of this new development, Dr Irfaan Ali, President, at a news conference revealed to reporters that his administration is examining the possibility of hiring Spanish teachers from overseas.

Additionally, he said he is working on a full assessment of the number of local teachers to see who is capable of effectively teaching the subject. He expressed that even though there is capacity at the secondary level, he wants students at grade four or five to start taking Spanish classes.

Ali also highlighted that the Government is in communication with “bilateral partners to loan human resources” in the transition period just until Guyanese teachers can take the lead across the country to teach the subject.

It is not just students who are subject to learning Spanish. Ali pointed out that he also will have ministers of government take classes and he hopes the private sector will do the same.

The opportunity to learn Spanish is also being extended to the general public since the Government is thinking of developing an online platform for citizens who want to learn the language, according to Ali, who expressed he regrets not having the opportunity to further pursue the subject in secondary school as he had to drop it.

Learning a foreign language will help students be more marketable in the working world as pointed out by Ali.

Guyana is currently dealing with a shortage of nurses and so, Ali announced the Government was looking to Havana to help tackle the issue.

Ali spoke on Wednesday with Jorge Francisco Soberón, the Cuban AmSobering, to Guyana in efforts to acquire Cuban nurses to enter the Guyanese system to help fill the gap due to the immediate shortage.

“The medium and long-term is to train and retrain and train more than the capacity that we need according to,” said the president.

For context, nationally, the public health sector has a shortage of at least 1,300 nurses and that’s only a portion of the shortage as the entire Caribbean is struggling with the shortage in not just nurses but other health workers.

The retreat was led by Mrs. Tiersa Hall from Impactful Imprints, an organization that assists professionals and organizations in enhancing leadership skills, cultivating positive work environments, and achieving desired goals. The department heads came together to exchange ideas and address challenges. The strategies developed during the retreat will contribute significantly to the overall advancement and success of the departments and the Ministry of Education.

This year, the Ministry of Education has adopted “implementation,” “execution,” and “accountability” as its keywords for human capital development. The ministry met to agree on priorities, timelines for reporting deliverables, improving communication, public relations and branding, and fostering a more collaborative and supportive environment for staff and the community it serves. Retreats will continue for education officers and principals, as well as ministry support staff and executives.

Editorial Staff

June 22, 2023 – The Caribbean Examinations Council will proceed with examinations as normal for all regions; an announcement which had been anticipated after as many as nine examination papers had reportedly been stolen from an exam centre in Jamaica.

The CXC candidates had been in a state of limbo, but a meeting held last Thursday June 15 with regional stakeholders affirmed the next step, which would be to carry out the examinations as scheduled.

The fireproof safe containing exams had been stolen on June 14 and contained both completed papers and the questions to nine exams yet to be administered region wide.

Students, teachers and parents had to wait for the outcome of an investigation into the issue before finding out whether exams would be pushed back. The Council on June 16 said with no evidence that the stolen safe had been compromised the dates for exams will continue as scheduled.

This was the second time the 2023 examination papers suffered some breach.  The first in May, also in Jamaica, was a reported leak of Mathematics Paper 2 ahead of the exam that same day.

Interestingly now, the Council has issued a new notice with there being a potential for some examination candidates to be delayed in testing; this time though, the threat is a natural disaster.  Tropical Storm Bret has caused some warnings to be issued in the lesser Antilles which includes Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and Dominica.

The National Hurricane Center, in its 11 p.m. advisory (Wednesday June 21) informed that a Tropical Storm Warning in in effect for: Dominica, St. Lucia and Martinique.  A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for: Barbados and St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Advice to students sitting the exams is to prepare to be present for their CXCs unless otherwise instructed by their country’s disaster preparedness office.

Schools were provided with the necessary resources, such as pots, tools, soil, seed, irrigation, and fencing.  In addition, teachers were trained by the Department of Education and Agriculture on establishing a farm and integrating farming concepts across various subject areas.

Schools have been reaping various fruits and vegetables that are sold to community members as a means of teaching entrepreneurship.  In some cases, reaped vegetables were used to make breakfast for students in the morning.

The Department of Education would like to thank Mr. Mario Smith from the Department of Agriculture for his technical and informational support throughout this program. His expertise and guidance have been an integral part of the overall success. In addition, the teachers and teachers have worked relentlessly to upkeep their farms this academic year.

The Farming in Schools project is implemented in fifteen public schools and piloted in two private schools. More schools are expected to be added to the new 2023/2024 term program.

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, June 18, 2023 – There was no gun at the Louise Garland Thomas High School, that’s the decisive statement from the Ministry of Education following a Friday (June 10th) afternoon lockdown that rightfully sent parents into a panic.

While thankfully there was no weapon as some residents had feared, Magnetic Media can confirm that there was a quantity of illegal drugs, namely marijuana, found in the possession of a student and police officers were called in to deal with the issue.

The Education Department of the Ministry of Education said in a press release on Monday June 12 that school authorities ‘received information of the likelihood of an occurrence that could endanger students and others on the compound’.

In response, as per established protocol, they activated the Critical Incident Management Plan, which in this case resulted in a lockdown.

Students were kept in and parents were kept out, pending police arrival as authorities worked to calm the situation. Some parents were panicked at the thought of not being able to get to their children but the Ministry says, “Allowing access to the compound before it was secured may have interfered with the standard protocols.”

The scene dissipated once Police arrived and students were allowed to go home. The quantity of marijuana is described as small and we can confirm that no one was taken into custody regarding the incident.

A group of professionals from the Ministry of Education joined Honorable Taylor. The team included Permanent Secretary Jones, Deputies Amin McCartney and Keisha Taylor, Director of Education Edgar Howell, and School Supervisor Reinwald Lewis. The group visited the North Caicos schools, including the Charles Hubert James Primary School, Adelaide Omeler Primary School, the Doris Robinson Primary School of Middle Caicos, and the Raymond Gardiner High School. While at the schools, discussions were held with the principals on aspects of the school’s administration.

Following the visits, the team met with parents and teachers of the Primary Schools at the auditorium of the Adelaide Omeler Primary and later the parents and teachers of the Raymond Gardiner High School. There was a high level of participation at both meetings, as attendees expressed their pleasure and concerns regarding issues ranging from physical work at the schools to staffing numbers.

The Hon. Minister and her team took the opportunity to provide updates on Capital Projects for the schools and upcoming social and extracurricular programs that will benefit students, teachers, and parents. These include but are not limited to the following:

• The introduction of Student Support Services in September 2023
• The introduction of the two Social Programs in September – Free Access to Day Care and After School Programs
• The reintroduction of Cadets on the islands of North and Middle Caicos for students ages 12 to 18
• Updates on Capital Projects
• Updates on teacher recruitment
• Updates on Special Needs Education
• CPEA Results
• Let’s REAP
• The Introduction of Specialist Mathematics Teachers for Primary Schools

Hon. Taylor is committed to holding meetings on the islands. She expressed her most significant appreciation to the principals, staff, and parents for their work as they collaborate to advance the Education System. Our goal at the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, and Social Services is to build the Human Capacity of the Turks and Caicos Islands people. The Minister joined her Cabinet colleagues the following day, and the tour of the islands continued. On Wednesday, the Minister joined her Ministerial Team for a Cabinet Meeting along with Acting Governor HE Anya Williams and Attorney General Rhondalee Braithwaite.

The signing ceremony was attended by the Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Hon. Charles Washington Misick, The Acting Governor, Her Excellency Anya Williams, the Director and Chairman of The Hamilton Education Foundation, Hon. Dr. Rufus W. Ewing.

Legal Counsel for Invest Turks and Caicos, Ms. Judith Garland and the Legal Counsel for The Hamilton Education Foundation, Ms. Yvette Marcelin.

The Hamilton University School of Medicine and Hamilton University Medical Center will be housed in a purpose-built 46,000 square feet five-story state of the art building in Grace Bay. The institution aims to address the current and emerging health challenges and will provide medical education and training to meet the growing demand for physicians and health care professionals in the Turks and Caicos, the Caribbean region and globally.

In addition, through the University Medical Center and community-based health programs the university will enhance equitable access to health services through specialist medical programs, medical tourism, transnational education, and collaborative research. The Hamilton University School of Medicine, the Hamilton University Medical Center, and its affiliated Hamilton University Research Institute will drive health innovation and global health equity and socio-economic transformation of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Premier in his remarks expressed that the development of the Hamilton University School of Medicine and the University Medical Center will go a long way in achieving his government’s commitment to the diversification of the TCI economy through social and economic transformation, while also addressing the health challenges of the Turks and Caicos Islands and beyond. The Acting Governor in her remarks stated that the university through its health and research programs will enhance Turks and Caicos visibility on the global stage and recognition as a major player in addressing the global health challenges.

CAPTION:  From Left to Right: Legal Counsel for Invest Turks and Caicos Judith Garland, Premier Hon. C. Washington Misick, Director and Chairman of the Hamilton Education and Foundation, Hon. Dr. Rufus W. Ewing, Acting Governor H.e. Anya Williams and Legal Counsel for the Hamilton Education Foundation Yvette Marcelin.

The Ministry of Education and Inter Health Canada staff, parents, and supporters of the SNAP Center were in attendance. Hon. Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports, and Social Services, brought greetings and declared the event officially open. Dr. Denise Braithwaite Tennant, CEO of TCI Hospital, brought greetings as host on the special occasion, concretizing the relationship.

The sporting activity incorporated races with fine, gross motor, and cognitive skills; such actions are essential for development as fine motor skills are the coordination between a child’s small muscles, like those in their hands, wrists, and fingers, in coordination with their eyes. Other activities included self-help (catching the bus), getting dressed for school, putting on clothes and shoes, packing your bag, and off you go.

Hand and eye coordination (Fill it up), dipping water from a container with a cup to fill small bottles, and the Math Race – running and answering written math questions and then running to home base was engaging and fun.

Well-wishers had the opportunity to witness our students participating in sensory-enriching events. It was pleasing to see the incorporation of the student’s goals from their Individual Educational Plan included in the sporting events. There were several special races with the staff of the various entities SNAP Center, InterHealth Canada, and the Ministry of Education. Teacher Shantae, Dr. Braithwaite, and the Hon Taylor were first in their respective races.

Hon. Rachel Taylor – Minister of Education, commented: “The SNAP Center now falls under the remit of the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports & Social Services, and I was overly delighted to have had the opportunity to join in on the activities with our students, teachers, parents, and sponsors. The level of enthusiasm, teamwork, and sportsmanship demonstrated by our students was exceptional and filled my heart. I look forward to working collaboratively with all our stakeholders to address our Special Needs students holistically. 

Dr. Denise Braithewaite-Tennant – CEO InterHealth Canada – TCI Hospital, commented, “We are thrilled about our recent collaboration with the SNAP Centre to host a sports day. It was an incredible day filled with enthusiasm, energy, and, most importantly, inclusion. We believe that sports are an essential aspect of healthy living, and everyone deserves to enjoy the camaraderie and teamwork that comes with participating in sports.

Special thanks to InterHealth Canada team led by Ms. Takara Bain, Public Relations and Marketing Manager. The day was indeed a success!

For additional information, contact the SNAP Center at 649-941-3187 (PLS).

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, June 18, 2023 – The results of the Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA) for the Turks and Caicos this year are now in and while it is still struggling slightly in mathematics, the results show a marked improvement on Covid-19 era tests.

FILE PHOTO

Overall the majority of schools and students performed well, of the 425 who sat exams 47 (11 percent)students were graded in the advanced competence bracket; 226 (53.1 percent)in the competence bracket; 135 near competence (31.7 percent) and only 17 in developing competence (4 percent).

The students sit four exams each year: Math, Social Studies, Civics and Science and are judged based on their scores on a scale of advanced competency (highest) to developing competency (lowest).

In 2022 of the 427 candidates who were assessed 26 (6.08 percent) were developing competence; 175 or 40.98 percent were near competence; 201 or 47.0& percent were competence, and 25 or 5.85 percent demonstrated advanced competence.

Turks and Caicos students this year received especially good marks in Science. A total of 89 students ranked as advanced competent; while 210 others ranked as competent; 109 students were near competent; and 17 were developing competent.

By contrast in mathematics 31 students ranked as advanced competence; 151 in the competence level ; 194 were marked near competence; and 49 marked developing competence.

Languages and civics fell squarely in the middle with 68 and 60 students marked in advanced competence respectively; 221 and 224 students marked competent respectively; 121 and 120 students marked near competence respectively; and finally 15 and 21 students marked developing competence respectively.

Ona Glinton Primary school and Oseta Jolly primary performed exceptionally, tying for the most students scoring in the overall advanced competency bracket (eight each). Of Ona Glinton’s 31 students 18 were marked competent and 5 near competence. They had no students scoring in the developing competence bracket.

Of Oseta Jolly’s 56 students they had 30 in the competence category; 17 marked near competence and one marked developing competence.

In addition, of the seven students who scored over 450 marks out of 500 Oseta Jolly and Ona Glinton both had two students each, the only schools to double rank on that list while the top student was from the BEST Institute; Richmond Hill Prep and Shining Stars Prep also made an appearance on the list.

Thelma Lightbourne Primary, Richmond Hill Preparatory and Eliza Simons were the only other schools to have more than four students in the advanced competency bracket with five, six and four respectively.