Only 61 percent of Bahamian primary school teachers in Grand Bahama schools met the minimum education requirements, according to the Department of Statistics Labour Market Report. The percentage is moderately higher in New Providence, where 76 percent of the Bahamian primary school teachers met the minimum education requirements.

The report, which was released last month but was derived from a 2011 survey, also provides the same information on foreign teachers in the primary school system. Eighty-three percent of foreign teachers in Grand Bahama and New Providence met the minimum standards. The numbers are higher for secondary school teachers.

The report shows that 98 percent of Bahamian teachers and 97 percent of foreign teachers in New Providence met the minimum requirements. In Grand Bahama, 88 percent of Bahamian secondary school teachers and 100 percent of foreign teachers met the minimum requirements.

Ninety-eight percent of Bahamian early childhood educators in New Providence and 100 percent of Bahamian early childhood educators in Grand Bahama met the minimum standards. All of the university and higher education teachers in New Providence met the minimum requirements, according to the report.

Asked about the report yesterday, Director of Education Lionel Sands said he did not have the opportunity to review the report, but suggested that all public school teachers meet the minimum requirements. The report does not break down the statistics for public and private institutions. However, the report provides similar information on a wide range of occupations.

Eighty-six percent of Bahamian lawyers in New Providence met the minimum education requirements; 89 percent of certified accountants; 67 percent of public relations professionals; 75 percent of power production plant operators; 29 percent of medical assistants; 81 percent of insurance representatives; 56 percent of carpenters and joiners and 86 percent of bank clerks.

In Grand Bahama, all of the female lawyers met the minimum requirements. There were no statistics on the male lawyers. All of the certified accountants met the minimum requirements; 76 percent of insurance representatives and bank tellers and 66 percent of carpenters and joiners also met the minimum requirements.

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