Education Director: “This is Not Unusual, and We Are Prepared”

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – The May 12th general election will disrupt school activities nationwide, including national examinations.

However, according to the Director of Education, this is not an unusual situation.

She told our Denielle Miller how she and her team have made the required arrangements to adjust.

Denielle Miller – demiller@cablebahamas.com

“The general election on May 12th interrupts the usual routines of all Bahamians, including our students, compelling the Ministry of Education to adjust the timetable for the national examinations.”

The upcoming general election will impact both the Grade Level Assessment Test (GLAT) and the Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSEs).

Classrooms nationwide will be converted into polling stations.

School hallways, bustling with thousands of voters, will make it almost impossible for students to sit the examinations.

This has prompted the Ministry of Education’s decision to pause in-school activities.

Dominique McCartney-Russell – Director, Ministry of Education

“There are two exams that we had to reschedule. And so GLAT Grade 3 will move to the Friday of that same week, and I think it was GLAT Grade 6 we had to move to the Monday. Whatever exam was on the twelfth, we had to move to another day, and finally we also had to move the BGCSE Food and Nutrition and Electrical Installation.”

She asserted that conducting a general election during examination periods is not uncommon, as it has happened before.

She also shared that although they were not informed of the date before the Prime Minister’s announcement of the election on April 1st, they were prepared to adapt.

Dominique McCartney-Russell – Director, Ministry of Education

“Because it has happened at least two or three times before, we have the experience, and so persons were not, you know, they were not flustered by the fact it was called on May 12th, and so we easily changed the schedule and sent out the new schedule.”

The Education Director said that the ministry has arranged for students to participate in classes online, and although national examinations are suspended for the day, this should not interrupt their studies.

Dominique McCartney-Russell – Director, Ministry of Education

“We do have virtual classes, they’re free classes, and those classes were put in place by our virtual school with really proficient teachers.”