MoEST establishes home-school unit to regularize home-schools
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology is taking a bold step to regularize homeschooling in The Bahamas. Minster Fitzgerald made the announcement on Thursday, August 11, 2016 during a press conference at the Ministry’s headquarters, as the official registration process begins on Monday, August 15, 2016. Also speaking on behalf of the MoEST was Deputy Director of Education, Mr. Marcellus Taylor.
Homeschooling has become a growing trend worldwide and many Bahamians have decided to home-school their children. Over the years, the MoEST has gathered sufficient information regarding homeschooling in The Bahamas and is now putting policies in place to regularize the practice.
Minster Fitzgerald emphatically stated that this is not an attempt to discourage homeschooling but to ensure that students who are home-schooled 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.”
The new policies regarding homeschooling were also outlined and information regarding the following was given:
· What is home-school?
· Who is a home-schooled student?
· Who is a home-school parent practitioner?
· What is NOT permitted in home-school?
· Recommendations for homeschooling,
· Requirements for home-school registration, and
· The benefits of registering with the MoEST.
Pastor Cedric Moss, President of The Bahamas Home-school Association expressed the association’s gratitude to the Ministry of Education for taking a common sense approach to regulate homeschooling in the country. “We are grateful that the Ministry has taken a common sense, light touch to regulation.” He also recognized that the initiative is meant to enhance and add value and not frustrate. “It is clear that the objective is to facilitate, not frustrate parents and guardians who home-school their children.”
The newly established Home-school Unit falls under the purview of Dr. Iva Dahl and will be located in the RND Plaza West, in the same building as First Caribbean 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.
For more information on The Bahamas Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, visit www.ministryofeducationbahamas.com.
About The Bahamas Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
The Bahamas’ Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) has responsibility for more than 50,000 K-12 students in approximately 170 educational institutions in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, which are dispersed over 14 districts in the major islands. Our goal is to increase the graduation rate from 50% to 80% by 2030. The MoEST aims to create an educational system that is technologically sound and competitive and that develops the strengths of each child, whether academic or otherwise, towards the maximum contribution that he/she is able to make to the national development of The Bahamas.
By Nikki Bethell
Source: Bahamas Information Services
