The PACT government lauded its actions on education as part of its ‘100 Day Report’ on the administration’s first 3 months in power.
The government highlighted the provision of nearly 5,000 laptops to public school students, the ‘Good’ inspection rating achieved by 3 public schools, the 50% increase in overseas scholarships funding, and other items, a number of which could be seen as overlapping with the previous Progressives-led government or as a continuation of the Progressives’ policies.
Premier Wayne Panton said in a news release accompanying the release of the report, “I appreciate the support, confidence, trust, and encouragement that the people of the Cayman Islands have in this Government. This has undoubtedly fuelled our efforts over the past 100 days.”
Here is the list of achievements in the Education section of the report:
- Achieved ‘Good School’ rating at John Gray High School, Layman Scott High School and Lighthouse School demonstrating significant improvement in Cayman Islands public education.
- Introduced the one-to-one Laptop Initiative providing 120 new iPads for the Lighthouse School and 4,989 laptops for all public school students.
- Received donations of 1,600 laptops from the Private Sector for all public schools and ordered an additional 450 laptops for the start of the new school year.
- Established the Cayman Scholar Award of up to CI$100,000 per year to the most outstanding Caymanian male and female students to pursue overseas undergraduate studies at approved elite colleges around the world.
- Created a special scholarship award of CI$35,000 per annum for undergraduate applicants pursuing studies leading to teaching as a profession.
- Increased the scholarship award for undergraduate overseas scholarships by 50 per cent from up to CI$20,000 per annum to up to CI$30,000 per annum.
- Expanded criteria for post-secondary scholarship funding to include students pursuing first- year qualifications in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, the Advanced Placement Programme, and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination.
- Confirmed nine nursing students at the University College of the Cayman Islands who passed their Regional Examination for Nurse Registrations.
Premier Panton said, “We will, together, march on to help better the lives of all who live and work here, and safely reopen our borders as we continue to keep our Islands safe from the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Together we have made the past 100 days meaningful and productive and have set a solid foundation for the remainder of our term. Our unwavering commitment is to place our people at the centre of everything we do.”