Cayman Current (https://www.caymancurrent.org/tag/barbara-conolly/)
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to ‘learning loss’ among Cayman Islands students, and local schools are still trying to close gaps in academic progress.
The Ministry of Education implemented a new policy on Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) at the beginning of this school year, applying to both public and private schools in the Cayman Islands.
The Cayman government still intends to establish Nursery classes in all public primary schools, starting in Grand Cayman with Red Bay Primary School.
The COVID pandemic has delayed the full implementation of the new Cayman Islands National Curriculum at the secondary school level until 2023.
During this sitting of Parliament, the Progressives are seeking information on several items related to education, including the national curriculum, early years education, special education needs, and student ‘learning loss’ related to COVID-19.
Opposition Education Spokesperson Barbara Conolly congratulates the public high schools for their recent inspection reports.
Reports of “alleged misconduct towards students of the Red Bay Primary School” have sparked an investigation by police and the Department of Children and Family Services.
Education Minister returns for a 2nd term, learning gaps in primary, girls outperform boys (again), UCCI graduation, and more!
The Progressives and their allies are prioritising 3 goals related to education: Complete the new John Gray project, create a ‘skills strategy’ to ‘match future skills to future jobs’, and have every public school rated ‘Good’ or better.
Incumbent Barbara Conolly touted the Progressives’ initiatives, including the new John Gray project, updated curriculum and pilot project on school boards. Her opponent Alric Lindsay said the government should focus instead on teacher recruitment, mental health support and vocational training.