Cayman Current (https://www.caymancurrent.org/tag/chamber-of-commerce/)
The Chamber of Commerce plans to host a major Education Summit this year to help “bridge the gap between the world of work and classroom”, Chamber President Mike Gibbs said.
Most of the candidates agreed that there is a lack of accountability in the Cayman Islands school system, going on to propose a variety of causes of and solutions to that issue.
George Town West candidates gave their views on why the Cayman Islands education system is underperforming, discussing factors inside the home as well as at school.
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.
Incumbent Kenneth Bryan said the key to improving the Cayman Islands education system is to give more support to struggling parents, and to make students feel safe when they are in school.
The two candidates for George Town North gave significantly different assessments of the state of the Cayman Islands education system, and accordingly diverged on proposals for future improvement.
Raul Nicholson-Coe focussed on immediate reintegration of public schools, while Andre Ebanks argued for creating an independent statutory authority to govern education.
Ebanks discussed bullying, support for teachers, learning disabilities, school integration and parental involvement. Bush, the incumbent, did not participate.
Incumbent Bernie Bush said higher education should be free for Caymanians, while challenger Rolston Anglin said Caymanians at overseas universities should have jobs lined up before they return to the Cayman Islands.
Incumbent Eugene Ebanks said there is a wrongful stigma against public schools, while challenger Katherine Ebanks-Wilks argued for reform at the primary school level, including delaying the starting age for students by one year.