From left, Marcellus Taylor, deputy director in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology; Jerome Fitzgerald, Minister of Education, Science and Technology; Lionel Sands, director in the Ministry of Education and Pastor Cedric Moss at yesterday’s press conference. (Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff)
THE Ministry of Education, Science and Technology is taking a bold step to regularise homeschooling in the Bahamas.
Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald made the announcement on Thursday during a press conference at the ministry’s headquarters. The official registration process begins on Monday, August 15. Also speaking on behalf of the ministry was Deputy Director of Education Marcellus Taylor.
Homeschooling has become a growing trend worldwide and many Bahamians have decided to homeschool their children. Over the years, the ministry has gathered sufficient information regarding homeschooling in the country and is now putting policies in place to regularise the practice.
Mr. Fitzgerald emphatically stated that this is not an attempt to discourage homeschooling but to ensure that students who are homeschooled are not disadvantaged. “Let me make it clear that we are not discouraging the practice, nor are we anti-homeschooling. With the emergence of homeschooling there is a multiplicity of curricula being used and we want to ensure that the curricula and instruction meet the standards of the Ministry of Education,” he said.
Pastor Cedric Moss, president of The Bahamas Homeschool Association, expressed the association’s gratitude to the Ministry of Education for taking a common sense approach to regulate homeschooling.
“It is clear that the objective is to facilitate, not frustrate parents and guardians who home-school their children,” he added.
The newly established Homeschool Unit falls under the purview of Dr. Iva Dahl and will be located in the RND Plaza West, in the same building as FirstCaribbean Bank. The application form and brochure are available on the ministry’s website at www.ministryofeducationbahamas.com and inquiries may be emailed to homeschoolunit@moe.edu.bs.
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