The Progressives are seeking information on several items related to education, including the Cayman Islands National Curriculum, early years education, special education needs, and student ‘learning loss’ related to COVID-19.
Of the Progressives’ 15 Opposition questions submitted for the current sitting of Cayman Islands Parliament, 4 are dedicated to education.
According to the Business Paper for the session, the Progressives’ intent is for George Town South representative Barbara Conolly (the Opposition’s Shadow Minister for Education) to pose the questions to Minister of Education Juliana O’Connor-Connolly.
O’Connor-Connolly was also Minister of Education under the previous Progressives-led government, when Conolly served as Education Councillor.
The questions are as follows:
- Can the Honourable Minister provide an update on the timetable for the introduction of the new Cayman Islands National Curriculum to cover students at all levels in Cayman’s public schools?
- Can the Honourable Minister provide an update on the implementation of her plans to improve and extend early years education provision?
- Can the Honourable Minister state whether she intends to update the Cayman Islands Special Educational Needs Code of Practice to ensure that it meets with current best practice?
- Can the Honourable Minister state what action she has taken or plans she has made, in light of the serious concerns raised by the Office of Education Standards that students across the public school system experienced “learning loss” caused by interruptions to their education, as a result of the various pandemic restrictions?
The Cayman Current will report on education-related topics discussed in Parliament, including potential answers to the Opposition’s questions.