Education Minister Inspects Schools Ahead of Official Opening

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – Officials toured Sybil Strachan Primary School and C.I. Gibson, getting a firsthand look at the work completed over the summer.

Education Minister Chester Cooper says ensuring schools were ready to welcome students was at the top of his list.

Chester Cooper – Minister of Education

“As the minister, I recognized that school repairs would be my first challenge, and I’m not ashamed to say that I went to great lengths to somewhat micromanage the process.”

Member of Parliament for the area, Pia Glover-Rolle, was also on the tour.

She says the ongoing effort to get schools where they need to be includes making sure classrooms have the basic supplies and resources students and teachers need.

Pia Glover-Rolle – Member of Parliament, Golden Gates

“We’ll be donating air conditioners so that all the classrooms, as you would have seen, some of the classrooms have air conditioners, but some do not. We’ll be donating air conditioning units to the classrooms.”

But beyond the repairs, there are other issues getting attention as the new school year approaches.

One of them is the ongoing controversy over hair restrictions in schools.

Cooper addressed the issue, saying:

Chester Cooper – Minister of Education

“Quite frankly, the policy exists. That policy is going to continue. We have uniforms for a reason.”

There’s also been a post circulating online suggesting some public schools are requiring students to carry certain colored backpacks.

Cooper says that is not the case.

Chester Cooper – Minister of Education

“In my living room, it’s about 500 backpacks of multiple colors there. They’re beautiful, and I don’t believe that there’s any school restricting them in the public system, that is.”

And with the final touches now being made, contractors are expected to wrap up the remaining work by this weekend, keeping the focus on one goal, making sure schools are ready on day one.