Roadtown, Tortola - Mister Speaker, we all have been thought from the inception of this country’s existence the famous story of what is good for the goose must be good for the gander. Whenever we fail to ensure that this old parable holds true, animosity, dissention, discord, divisiveness, and lack of productivity is fully eminent. 

Upon taking office as Minster of Educations and Culture, it was soon realized that each grade level in our Territory was not on par. Class three known as grade four, as an example in Lenora Delville was not covering the same material as class three or grade four, in Robinson O’Neal or even at the Willard Wheatley Primary School, and among others. 

This discrepancy and lack of accountable due to no one policing the education system created imbalance in two areas, one - in the result of the primary five exams where some public primary schools did great and other schools did good and others did poorly across the board. 

In the same token, students who transferred from one public primary school to another found themselves to be ahead of their class for which they transferred into or many times behind the level of their new class. Simply put, a student who might have transferred from class two from one of our public primary schools to class three in another one of our public primary schools should not miss a beat had the system been accountable across each grade level in our primary division. 

In an effort to bring accountability across each grade level, as well as ensuring that our children and teachers are on par per each grade level in the primary division. This government through the ministry of education and culture used those who brought us to this current education mountain peak, which is our retired education stalwarts of our education system, both teachers and principals. 

Mister Speaker, these stalwarts were able to take us to the highest mountain top in education of their day. As a result, we must now use their expertise, knowledge, wisdom and modernize their methodology in assisting us to build a bridge from their education mountaintop where they brought us in the first leg of our education journey, across to the new higher mountain so that we can embark on the second leg of our education journey to reach a new height on the much higher modern mountaintop of education. Only by doing this we can we truly move our education system from good to great.

Mr. Speaker, one of our education stalwarts were assigned as a coordinator for a grade level in each level of the primary division, from stages one to class five.

In addition, Mr. Speaker the co-coordinator for each grade level was one of our teachers who is currently teaching in the grade level in each of the specified grade levels. 

Mister Speaker, these two individuals were responsible for ensuring that all teachers of the same grade level in mathematics and English were completing the same scope of work, objectives and levels from Anegada to Jost Van Dyke. 

Mr. Speaker, no longer are our public primary schools on the Sister Islands disenfranchised in the areas of the level of work and objectives to be accomplished per grade level. Every public primary school on every island in these Virgin Islands is now on par in each grade level.  Mister Speaker sir, we are moving from good to great in education in this Territory.

Mister Speaker, the results of this initiative among other key education initiatives implemented in the 2008-2009 school year allowed once again for accountability, due diligence and a sense of purpose to be brought at the forefront of our education system in the primary division.

Mister Speaker I am proud to report that these efforts by our current and past primary school teachers, current and past primary school principals, education officers and our parents allowed us, in one year, this school year, to move our pass mark of students being successful in the primary five examinations, from 84 percent to 93 percent.

Mr. Speaker, this is a 9 percent increase rate in just one year. And this must be celebrated. Mister speaker, if a business experience a 9 percent increase in profits for the year they would probably celebrate for a long time and we should do no less.  I congratulate my primary school principals, teachers, parents, Ministry and Department of Education and Culture, this Government, for their unwavering support and dedication in moving our education system from good to great.
 
Mister Speaker, the aim of the grade level initiative is far reaching with one of the future goals that we are working towards is to reduce the dependency on the primary five examination as being the do all, be all, or measure all in our students’ education lives. Instead continuous assessment through a national testing in each grade level is the course of action being pursued by this government. Needlessly to say, Mister Speaker, the grade level initiative is the first step in bringing this goal to fruition. 

The grade level initiative has not only benefited student but has been a breath of fresh air for teachers who now have a clearer understanding of the objectives to be achieved. Which, Mister Speaker, as stated at the beginning of this statement that once all efforts are exhausted to ensure that the goose and the gander remains on the same table allows for the increase in productivity and a renewed sense of hope and desire which can only help to move our education system and this Territory from good to great.