Nassau, Bahamas - Please be advised that School Board Elections
are scheduled to be conducted on
Tuesday,
28th October, 2014. This year, The Ministry has seen the need to
increase the number of School Boards by five, increasing the total number to 55
Boards, across the chain of islands. The new boards are as follows:
Abaco Central Primary School, Marsh
Harbour, Abaco
Abaco Central High School, Marsh
Harbour, Abaco
Central Eleuthera High School, North
Palmetto Point, Eleuthera
L.N. Coakley High School, George
Town, Exuma
North Andros High School, Nicholls
Town, Andros
School Boards were officially implemented
following a 1996 amendment to the Education Act (Chapter 46) that made
provision for such Boards.
The implementation of School Boards is a
deliberate part of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology’s process
of decentralization and devolution within the public education system of The
Bahamas. It is founded on the basic belief that the education of students is
improved when local communities, that is, schools, parents and others, are
active participants in the delivery of education within that community.
School Boards play a very significant role in
establishing accountability and responsibility in the efficient management of
schools. According to Part II of the
Articles of Management of the Education Act, School Boards are responsible for:
· Minor repairs and maintenance of school premises.
· School furniture and equipment.
· School books and materials.
· Improvements or extensions to school premises.
School Boards must
also be in full consultation at all times with the Principal and may approve
the following:
· The use of school premises outside of school hours.
· Appointments of Principals and teachers (making recommendations, if
deemed necessary, for the consideration of the Department of Education).
· All major proposals affecting the conduct and curriculum of the school.
· Student suspensions, registration, attendance and examination of pupils.
· The discipline to be enforced on pupils both inside and outside the
schools.
· The punishment and suspension of pupils.
· The health, cleanliness and medical inspection of pupils.
· School holidays and variations in the school calendar to be enjoyed by
teachers and pupils.
· The internal organization and management of the school.
As can be seen, the scope of the School Board
is quite broad and an effective school board will realize its vision by
maintaining a collaborative relationship with its school’s administration and
with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.
Although the individual success of each
School Board will vary depending on its level of collaboration with the school,
it is undeniable that they have improved the function of individual schools
overall throughout the years.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
looks forward to increasing the number of School Boards in the upcoming October
elections and encouraging existing Boards to fully utilize their role, therefore
enhancing community partnership with the Ministry of Education.