Darville knocks Education minister over decline in national exam results

Darville knocks Education minister over decline in national exam results
Dr. Michael Darville

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Senator Michael Darville yesterday pinned the decline in national examination results on poor leadership as he raked Minister of Education Jeffrey Lloyd over education outcomes.

Darville accused Lloyd of “intimidating and threatening our educators”, and furthered these actions have created a toxic mix in the public school system that have adversely impacted scholastic performance and education outcomes.

“This has hurt our children and if it is not arrested could have negative implications for us as a nation,” he said in a press statement.

“The Education Minister was very critical of the PLP’s handling of public education, branding the Christie government as careless and negligent, characterizing our education system as being in crisis and claimed to have the answers to our education woes.”

Darville, opposition spokesman on education, added: “During his tenure as Minister we are seeing a deterioration in the quality of education.”

 

Yesterday, Darville said: “Fewer students have reportedly sat the core BGCSE subjects of Math, English and Science and there was a decrease in the number of students who secured at least a grade of ‘C’ in these core subjects.

“Schools have not opened on time for the start of the new school year due to delays in required repairs and the Minister has failed to resolve a number of outstanding labour issues with the Bahamas Union of Teachers.

“There have also been reports of unsafe and unhealthy work environments which have led to demonstrations, strike votes, walkouts and sit outs by teachers.”

“Further, complaints of teacher shortages continue and the government is slow to act.”

Darville added: “Minister Lloyd has a duty to address this decline in scholarship and outline a strategy to reverse this trend. A good place to start is to create an environment that is conducive to learning.”