Responses to Questions to the Minister of Education & Culture Hon. Andrew A. Fahie by the Leader of the Opposition Third Sitting of the Second Session of the First House of Assembly Tuesday, 6 January, 2009

Question 1

~~Adz:Right~~Mister Speaker, would the Minister of Education and Culture please inform this Honourable House of the basic concepts of the power school software initiative?

Mister Speaker, In today’s world the use of technology is vital to the success of any organization. Gone are the days when even the simplest data was recorded manually in any business firm, be it a multinational company or a small shop. With this kind of reality, if the children are not exposed to the technologies and their use early, they will lag behind in the coming years and not be able to cope with and keep pace with the technological advances available thus far in the modern world. In the VI, the curriculum in our schools reflects this change as students are engaged in Computer Science classes at the Secondary Level. Attempts have also been made to develop resource centres equipped with computers in each Primary school. In all our schools Mister Speaker, children are exposed to the use of the computer.

Mister Speaker, at the Administrative level the technology is used to provide information for decision making. Thirteen years ago the School Administrative Student Information (SASI) software programme was introduced and implemented in 18 public schools to help in this respect. Education Officers, Principals, teachers and public health nurses were trained in the use of SASI.  In each school there are varying levels of utilization due to a variety of factors. Mister Speaker, the system can be used to do enrolment and to collect student demographic information, basic scheduling, attendance and grading (the latter being linked to inteGrade Pro software at the secondary level.) At the Primary level, student enrolment data is entered into the SASI database. 

Mister Speaker, the Pearson Company, manufacturer of the SASI software is migrating SASI to PowerSchool, a web-based programme. SASI will be discontinued by 2010 by the company. The upgrade to Power School provides several advantages over SASI. The centralized nature of Power school will also eliminate the need to deploy and support servers to each school and reduce the overhead costs associated with maintaining the equipment. With Power School, servers will be reduced from the 17 deployed with SASI to 2.

As PowerSchool is web-based Mister Speaker, it simplifies the process of making the application accessible. Secured access to the system will be available anywhere, anytime, once there is an internet connection. Mister Speaker, educators, administrators and parents will be able to have access to the relevant information placed on the system, in real time. Mister Speaker, Power School integrates and automates critical functions like attendance, complex scheduling, classroom grading, and reporting. A single centralized relational database makes reporting easier. For example Mr. Speaker, within minutes of the beginning of each class session in our public schools, teachers will be able to take attendance and press submit to enter the information into the system.  In real time parents can log on using an ID number assigned to their child only, and confirm whether their child attended school on that day.  Likewise the soon to come on board truancy officer can stay at the Department of Education and print a full list of all students absent from school or class and make immediate inquiry into the matter, all in real time.

This proactive course of action by the Government of the Virgin Islands will help tremendously in reducing the drop out rate in our education system.

In terms of security Mr. Speaker, this is built in. Security is very stringent. One can only access the areas to which one is given permission. For example Mr. Speaker, teachers will only be able to access the classes they are assigned. They will be able to see the grades of the students in those classes assigned by other teachers but they will not be able to edit them. Mr. Speaker parents will only be able to view their child’s records as each person will have his/her own password for their child.  Even if a parent has more than one child in the Territory’s public school system, they would be assigned a password for each one of their children.  Mr. Speaker, in addition, each level of personnel will have different levels of access.

Mister Speaker, moving to PowerSchool will reduce annual support/maintenance payments by 55% when compared to SASI and InteGrade Pro maintenance. Annual maintenance costs of SASI and InteGrade Pro totalled $32,688.60 while the annual maintenance of PowerSchool is $18,103.50.

Mister Speaker, what will be its uses and benefits? There are many:

To Schools
PowerSchool is a software programme that will help schools manage and track among other things, student enrolment, attendance, student and faculty demographics, scheduling, discipline and grades.  Reports for all of the above can be generated both at the school level and at the district level - the Department /Ministry. 

To the Department/Ministry
At the Department/Ministry level Mister Speaker, it will make the collection of information from schools more efficient and therefore data for decision making and policy development purposes will be more readily available.  It will also support the collection and organization of information in the education system for answering queries from the public, the publication of reports for local regional and international departments and organizations, including the Development Planning Unit (DPU), the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, Education Reform Unit (OERU) and the United Nations Institute for Statistics (UIS).  Mr. Speaker, this initiative also allows student interest to be documented which will assist greatly in the Government of the Virgin Islands process of developing a clear path forward on how to fill the man power needs to move this Territory from good to great.

Mister Speaker, with the introduction of Power School in the Education System, having computers available to teachers will allow them to be able to input data anywhere, anytime in order to keep records up-to-date. It would create greater access for parents allowing them to become more knowledgeable about their child’s/children’s academic and social performance in school, and allow Education officials to plan effectively for the improvement of the education system.  Mr. Speaker, sir, in a nutshell, for parents, especially, Power School will be an extra pair of eyes in the classrooms.  Mr. Speaker, Sir, Power School will not be the do all nor the save all, nor the be all in education, but it will be an integral part in the process of ensuring that our Territory’s education system moves from good to great.

Question 2

~~Adz:Left~~Mister Speaker, would the Honourable Minister of Education and Culture please inform this Honourable House whether he is pursuing accreditation of all the schools in the Territory, and if so could he inform us of the process and the benefits?

Mister Speaker, as stated in the Second Sitting of the First Session of this Honourable House on November 6th, 2007,  the Government of the Virgin Islands through the Ministry of Education has decided to upgrade Secondary  Schools in the British Virgin Islands initially.  Mr. Speaker, this initial phase will focus on, among other things, the academic structure and eventually the physical structure of our education system.   Mr. Speaker, as stated then, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, presently the Accrediting Agency for the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, is the Commission to which we will be turning to seek accreditation of our Territory’s schools.

Mr. Speaker, the Ministry is interested in pursuing Accreditation for ALL public schools but at this juncture we are dealing with the Public Secondary schools in the first instance.

Mr. Speaker, as previously stated in this Honourable House, I state again that, the accreditation which we seek to obtain will help to strengthen and sustain the quality and integrity of secondary education in this Territory that is worthy of the public’s confidence.  It will make the pathway to other institutions both within and without the region, but especially in the United States, smoother for our students.

Mr. Speaker, again as previously stated the process for accreditation is a lengthy one and will take several years and that is why we are starting the process now. Mr. Speaker, recently we had a team of education officials from the Ministry and Department of Education meet with the Director and Assistant Director of Middle States Association to discuss the process. Mr. Speaker we are now in the process of getting the registration done in order for Middle States to take a decision on the way forward.

Mr. Speaker, the public Schools will then go through a screening process before we can enter the candidacy stage should we meet the requirements of Middle States Association. A Self-Study will then be required against twelve standards and 12 -18 months is given for this stage of the process.

Mr. Speaker, following such a path will have many benefits for our schools. Mr. Speaker to be involved in an ongoing accreditation protocol will foster excellence and ongoing improvement in our schools.  Mr. Speaker, we must put ourselves in the position to ensure continuous school improvement. The process of accreditation Mr. Speaker, “provides a systematic process that requires a school to ask itself why it exists, to establish a vision of its future and to determine specific objectives for reaching that vision.”

Further Mr. Speaker, when the information is gathered for the accreditation process, it will serve as empirical data for school improvement, strategic planning, restructuring and staff development. It will allow for an examination of the entire school – its philosophy and goals, relationship with the community, its programmes and services, its financial stability and the facilities. Mr. Speaker, it will further, through regular assessment, planning and reassessment help the schools to manage change. Also Mr. Speaker, Accreditation will help the Ministry and Department of Education to establish priorities for improvement by using thorough needs assessments rather than continue on a path of crisis management or faddish approaches to improvement.

Accreditation also Mr. Speaker, will help to provide accountability. It will validate to the public the integrity of the school’s programme and student transcripts, assure the community that the school’s purposes are appropriate and that it will justify the faith and resources others place in the school.

Mr. Speaker, lastly, the process of Accreditation will bring about involvement and commitment from all the stakeholders and build positive public relations. Our stakeholders will be involved in the process of charting the direction of the school. They will be able to help the school to be all it can be. Mr. Speaker we need to secure the future of our schools by creating a sound vision - We cannot let the future happen to our schools. Mr. Speaker through this process we will be emphasizing the positive and showing how strong and effective our schools are by willingly submitting our school to public scrutiny and evaluation. This will build commitment and a deeper understanding of the schools’ efforts.  Education officials, teachers, counsellors, and all other requisite professionals, will broaden their views of community expectations and have a closer collaboration with parents and community.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, in a nutshell, the pursuance of Accreditation of our public schools will allow for accountability and in return make our Public Education System accountable to the people of this Territory and beyond.

Question 3~~Adz:Right~~

Mister Speaker would the Honourable Minister of Education and Culture please tell this Honourable House:

(a) what new subjects have been introduced into the Tech Voc programme;
(b) what were the enrolment and retention rates in the programme over the past two years; and
(c) how are the graduates of the programme being employed in the community?

a) Mister Speaker, we have not introduced any new programmes at the BVI Technical / Vocational Institute at Baughers Bay.  However, Mr. Speaker, some of the programmes have been evaluated and where possible modified to better cater to the needs of the students and the calls from the community.  Additionally, Mr. Speaker we recognize that there is a need to expand and the Ministry plans on looking carefully at the programmes now offered.

b) Mister Speaker, in terms of the enrolment and retention rates in the programme at Baughers Bay, Mister Speaker for the 2006 – 2007 School Year the BVI Technical and Vocational Institute enrolment was 64 students.

49 returning students
15 new students

At the end of the 2006 – 2007 school year four students had withdrawn from the programme at Baughers Bay.  Therefore the retention rate for the year was 93.6%.

Mister Speaker, at the beginning of the 2007 – 2008 school year the BVI Technical and Vocational Institute enrolment was 65 students.  There were 46 returning students and 19 new students.

Mister Speaker at the end of the 2007 – 2008 school year eight students had withdrawn from the programme at Baughers Bay: seven boys and one girl.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, the retention rate for the year 2007 – 2008 was 97.4%.

c) Mister Speaker, no formal study has been done to track students leaving the BVI Technical/Vocational Institute at Baughers Bay.  However, Mister Speaker based on information gathered by the school, of the nine graduates in December 2007, three of them went to work in their specialized field of study (Air-condition and Refrigeration, Electronics and Small engine repair) through the apprenticeship programme; one went into Early Childhood Education; one went into the Hospitality Industry; one is in the process of opening his own business in his field of study (Visual Arts); two are continuing their studies and the employment status of the remaining one is unknown.

Mister Speaker, for the December 2008 graduation, there were six graduates and we know that three are planning to continue their studies. Therefore Mister Speaker, it is not possible to provide a full employment status of these students at this time.

Question 4

Mister Speaker, would the Honourable Minister of Education and Culture please inform this Honourable House how he intends to make the Elmore Stoutt High School a Technical High School?

Mister Speaker, there is no intention on the part of the Ministry of Education & Culture and the Government of the Virgin Islands to make the Elmore Stoutt High School a Technical High School. There seems to be some misunderstanding or some misinterpretation on this matter.

Question 5

~~Adz:Left~~Mister Speaker would the Honourable Minister of Education and Culture please inform this Honourable House what percentage of children are now benefiting from the Text Book Loan Programme, and which schools are involved?

Mr. Speaker, the Text Book Loan programme has now completed one full academic year.  For the beginning of the 2008/2009 academic year total participation in the loan programme is as follows:

• Elmore Stoutt High School – 249 students have participated or 19.14% of the students.
• Bregado Flax Educational Centre – 165 students have participated or 75% of the students.
• Claudia Creque Learning Centre – 10 students out of 23 have participated or 43.4% of the students.
• Jost Van Dyke Secondary – 4 of the 5 secondary students participate which is 80% of the students.

Mister Speaker we have continued with the programme in the secondary schools only, thus far. The Ministry through the Department of Education is doing an analysis of the programme and ensuring that policies and protocol guidelines are in place to cover all aspects of the programme.

Mister Speaker, the policy and protocol guidelines are expected to set a timeline for various activities (e.g. delivery of books, signing of contracts, return of books, replacement of books etc).  It is also expected that we will have running in every school an information database to catalogue disbursement and return of books.  The introduction of PowerSchool will assist us in this venture significantly.

Question 6

Mister Speaker would the Honourable Minister of Education and Culture please inform this Honourable House of:

(a) which schools are now benefiting from the Government’s lunch programme;
(b) the monthly cost of the programme; and
(c) the manner in which the lunch is provided?

Mr. Speaker, The Ministry of Education and Culture at the beginning of the Academic Year co-opted the services of a consultant, Mrs. Judith Vanterpool of Biz Com Ed Consulting Ltd., to carry out a feasibility study and present a proposal on the School Lunch Programme.  Mr. Speaker, we were also able to get technical assistance from the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute, of the Pan American Health Organization, to visit and meet with the Consultant and Officers of the Department of Education to begin the process of data collection.  It is important Mr. Speaker that we have the data so that we can make decisions that will be in the best interest of the Territory and the children.

Mr. Speaker I have no doubt that when the ground work is completed we will be on good footing to move ahead with putting the programme in place.  I believe Mr. Speaker that this initiative will not only help those in need but it will be instrumental in helping our children to eat nutritious meals that will allow us to eventually cut back on our health costs.  Mr. Speaker we are facing rising numbers of young people with chronic non-communicable diseases and this is one way to help prevent that rise.

Therefore Mr. Speaker, at this time I am unable to answer the questions posed by the Honourable Leader of the Opposition but will furnish this Honourable House with a full report when the results of the feasibility study are in and the plans for the way forward are complete.  Mr. Speaker, to do or answer anything contrarily at this stage would be pre-empting the findings of the consultant.

 
Question 7

Mister Speaker, would the Honourable Minister of Education and Culture please tell this Honourable House:

(a) What has been the total cost to Government for Festival 2008.
(b) What was the cost to Government for each of the venues; Road Town, East End and Carrot Bay?

a) Mister Speaker, Sir, the 2008 Budget estimates allocated seven hundred thousand dollars, ($700,000.00),  in Head 415, Subhead 62414 for all festivals in the Territory.

Although, Mister Speaker, that was the case, the Ministry originally requested one million, four hundred thousand dollars, ($1,400,000.00) to be allocated for all festivals in the Territory for 2008.  Mister Speaker, it is important to highlight that the request for one million, four hundred thousand dollars, ($1,400,000.00) for all 2008 festivals was based on projections bearing in mind the expenses which were experienced in past festivals over the last few years but with the view of scaling back to the requested one million, four hundred thousand, ($1,400,000.00). 

Mister Speaker, Sir, the actual expenses for festival 2008 totalled one million, six hundred and ninety six thousand, nine hundred ninety seven dollars and twenty eight cents, ($1,696,997.28), at this present time.  Not included in that figure Mr. Speaker was the unforeseen expense of providing security at all festival sites.  This total was two hundred and eighty thousand, one hundred and forty two dollars and fifty five cents, ($280,142.55). 

Mister Speaker, a question may be asked why the security expense?.  Mister Speaker, given the climate of the Territory at that time due to the many violent crimes and murders that occurred just a few weeks before festival and the potential for retaliation which had been rumoured and was lingering in the airwaves, this Government took a pro-active approach to secure the citizens of this Territory and all the visitors by ensuring that all festival venues were properly secured for the duration of all festival events.  Mister Speaker, I must inform this Honourable House that over forty (40) weapons were discovered and taken away at the entrance of the different festival venues.  A gun was detected on a male individual who managed to escape from security upon being detected.

Other than the security, Mister Speaker, one hundred and sixty  nine thousand, ninety four dollars and eighty nine cents $169,094.89, and counting, was paid for bills that were incurred by the immediate past administration for Festival 2007.  Mister Speaker, the total actual expenditure of Festival 2008 of one million, six hundred and ninety six thousand, nine hundred and ninety seven dollars and twenty eight cents, ($1,696,997.28), plus the unforeseen expenses for security at all festival venues of two hundred and eighty thousand, one hundred and forty two dollars and fifty five cents, ($280,142.55) plus the to date paid expenses of the past administration for Festival 2007 of one hundred and sixty nine thousand, ninety four dollars and eighty nine cents $169,094.89, gives a total of  two million, fifty six thousand, two hundred and thirty four dollars and seventy two cents, ($2,056,234.72), with only one million, six hundred and ninety six thousand, nine hundred and ninety seven dollars and twenty eight cents, $1,696,997.28 directly attributed to Festival 2008 expenses.

b) Mister  Speaker, to date, the Government of the Virgin Islands provided funds for allocation through Head 415, Sub-head 62414 to the following sub-committees:

Therefore, Mister Speaker, the funds allocated by Government for Road Town, East End/Long Look and Carrot Bay was nine hundred forty thousand, nine hundred and thirty six dollars, ($940,936.00) and when Virgin Gorda is included, then the total funds allocated by Government for all four (4) areas was one million, nine hundred and thirty six dollars, ($1,000,936.00).