South Caicos MP refutes rumors of chaos at island public schools

#TurksandCaicos, January 9, 2018 – South Caicos – Parents and students of the two public schools in South Caicos are not suffering any losses in the quality of education due to changes and shortages in the faculty.  Magnetic Media spoke to the Member of Parliament for the district, Hon Ruth Blackman who said a social media post claiming otherwise is blowing things out of proportion.

The write up was headlined, “Too much issues, no solutions, no representation” and aimed to defend the cause of Marjorie Basden High School, where the former principal David Bowen is now officially no longer at the institution and at the Iris Stubbs Primary School, where the issue surrounds a lack of staffing at the grade six level so near to regional GSAT examination.

Mrs. Blackman explained to Magnetic Media that Mr Bowen has been promoted to Education Officer and now works out of the Providenciales office of the Ministry of Education.

The South Caicos MP said islanders wanted Bowen back and got him returned to the school, but she said it was no secret that his placement would likely be temporary.  It is said that Mr. Bowen becoming an Education Officer is a promotion in pay for the long time educator, who had also faced issues with getting government housing allowance while resident in South.

It was shared that it is widely known that parents and students greatly favor the former principal, David Bowen and had formally petitioned the Ministry of Education for his return at the helm at the high school.  The petition not only stemmed from an expressed preference for Bowen’s style of leadership but a reported disdain for the acting principal’s way of managing the school.

Although Mr. Bowen is no longer the principal at the high school in South Caicos, there is no void.  Rodney Cox has been acting in the position of principal for roughly a year.

Blackman shared that “there are real gripes” in regards to how parents and students feel about Acting Principal Cox, but dismissed ideas that there was danger or trouble at the school.

Iris Stubbs Primary school does have a teacher shortage; missing is a sixth grade educator for the children but Hon Blackman again offered explanation and said the principal has been able to fill in brilliantly as the grade six teacher.

The Ministry of Education has not responded to the social media post.