Inquiry to be held into education system – ministry

An inquiry is to be conducted into the education system and members of the public are being invited to submit memoranda.

A release yesterday from the Ministry of Education said that in its effort to upgrade and extend the Education Sector Strategic Plan, it will be conducting an inquiry into the system. The release said that the inquiry is intended to provide evidential bases for the revision, upgrading and extension of the Plan.

Rupert Roopnaraine
Rupert Roopnaraine

The public is invited to submit memoranda on the system, inclusive of factual illustrations. Memoranda should be submitted no later than May 14, 2016 and should be addressed to the Ministry of Education Inquiry Secretariat c/o the Ministry of Education, 26 Brickdam, Stabroek, the release said.

Persons desirous of supplementing their memoranda with oral presentations, to the Commission, may indicate, in their submission, the desire to do so.

Further, persons who are desirous of making oral submissions without submitting memoranda may also write to the Commission, no later than April 30, 2016, expressing the desire to do so. The membership of the Commission was not disclosed.

The ministry will be hosting a press conference tomorrow at which Minister of Education, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, commissioners, and education officials are expected to be present.

In July last year, Roopnaraine had spoken of an inquiry already being underway.

Speaking at the 6th International Reunion of the Alumni of St Rose’s High School he said: “I need to know which schools need infrastructural work.

I need to know about everything that is lacking in our school system. Reports have already started to come in and the audit is expected to be concluded by month end,” according to a statement from the ministry.

“A Commission of Inquiry was also established to investigate and hold hearings across the country and provide a report outlining recommendations for the enhancement of education delivery,” the ministry said.

The COI comprises teachers, education officials, experts in various fields and citizens drawn from across the country.

While experts have already submitted reports, the minister was disappointed to find that they did not include an action plan to address deficiencies, the statement had said.