Looking at the global problem of dealing with education, West End and Bimini MP Obie Wilchcombe, who also serves as Tourism Minister, expressed serious concern on Wednesday about the large number of Bahamians, who have been in the tourism industry for a long time, but are still not sitting in top positions.
Instead, he said more and more foreigners are allowed to come to The Bahamas and assume these spots, while some Bahamians continue to play second and third fiddle.
But he suggested that changing this would be very difficult if the country continues to “casually” accept that Bahamian students are not doing well.
“I personally do not accept the fact that students, who are attending school are not being made to deliver higher grades,” Mr. Wilchcombe said.
The minister was contributing to the debate on a Bill to establish the National Accreditation and Equivalency Council of The Bahamas ( NAECOB).
If passed, NAECOB would ensure that educational institutions in The Bahamas ﾖ be they pre, primary or secondary schools ﾖ are held accountable for the delivery of quality education and training programmes.
“Our job is to ensure that we donﾒt have a low grade. Our job is to ensure that we have a higher standard and that the world will look at us as a template for success,” Mr. Wilchcombe said
“No matter how much economic development we would cause to happen in this country, if the Bahamians can not take full advantage of these opportunities, then itﾒs all for naught. In fact, we are then working for someone else because all others who come in to invest in this country will be the beneficiaries. Yes, we have jobs, but we wonﾒt have the leadershipﾅAnd so yes, leadership is wonderful, but I always believe it begins with the will of the people.”
According to Education Minister Alfred Sears, NAECOB is intended to ensure that all schools strive for the highest level of excellence.
NAECOB will be structured as an autonomous body and have four main objectives ﾖ to accredit and reaccredit programmes of institutions operating in The Bahamas, establish equivalency of accredited programmes and qualifications, advise the public on the recognition of foreign programmes and institutions and promote a culture or equality.
The Bill also makes provisions for penalties in the case of non-compliance.
This includes the word “university,” “college” or community college if the institution has not gained the Councilﾒs approval.
According to Minister Sears, penalties would range from imprisonment to a fine of up to $10,000.
Speaking in his capacity as Minister of Public Service, Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell said Wednesday the issue of whether degrees are actually worth what people claim they are is one the Public Service Commission (PSC) continues to face.
“How do you decide whether a degree, which comes from an institution is in fact a real degree that represents a high level that the country can depend upon, that the standards that we are seeking to set in The Bahamas are actually those standards, ” he said.
“All kinds of institutions in this country have to ensure that when they give a degree that actually represents what it says.”
This, he said, will become even more important as The Bahamas retools its economy for an era of more intense competition.
“The country has to have an image of high standards, not one that is willing to water down its standards simply to allow people to get byﾅFor all of these reasons, I find this Bill compelling and it should be supported,” the Fox Hill MP said.
Also contributing to the debate on Wednesday was South Abaco MP Robert Sweeting and Gardens Hills MP Veronica Owens.
According to Ms. Owens, the proposed legislation is an indication that The Bahamas is finally catching up to a progressive way of thinking and function.
“We have the opportunity to make a dramatic departure from the status quo ﾖ one that creates an infrastructure for professional learning and an accountability system that ensures attention to standards for educators as well as students on every level,” the Garden Hills MP said.
“However, there must synchronization between the national standards and international standardsﾅThis Bill will give life long learners in this country a new lease on life and give all children, no matter what their challenges may be, a fair chance to maximize their potential.”
By: Macushla N. Pinder, The Bahama Journal
