#Nassau, The Bahamas – House of Assembly – April 6, 2020
MR. SPEAKER:
Today,
I update this Honourable House and the nation of the progress by the Ministry
of Education is delivering ‘live’ instructions, making educational resources
available, and assisting parents, teachers, administrators and all stakeholders
in the execution of the online educational system that is now full steam in the
Bahamas.
This
virtual platform serves approximately 50,000+ public school students, 25,000
private school students, and 25,000 more tertiary enrolled students.
From Bahamas Ministry of Health
As
you are aware, Sir, the Ministry of Education closed it school doors on Monday,
March 16th, as a result of the pandemic upon us. Before this virus
outbreak, the Ministry had launched it virtual school in September, 2019, engaging
over 1600 students, primarily those in remote districts in our country. In the
immediate aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, the Online Platform was needed to
provide instruction for the storm-affected students of Abaco and Grand Bahama.
Today,
there is a further immediacy and urgency for educators across The Bahamas to
deliver online lessons to all students in Grades K-12, utilizing the virtual
school platform.
Since
the school’s closure, the Ministry’s leadership and Teams of Teachers,
Curriculum Officers, Administrators and Technical Officers have met and
prepared volumes of material for students for all grade levels, as well as
sourced materials rom available sources
around the globe to augment and supplement the Ministry’s Offering.
to
produce “e-learning instructional resources” for all curricula, at the various
grade levels.
Technical
officers met over two days (Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th March. 2020) to develop
a plan for the way forward. As a result,
curriculum officers established teams of teachers to develop content for
placement on the Virtual learning platform.
An online student registration process was created of which the public
was notified primarily using a media campaign engaging traditional and social
media.
By Monday 23rd March, the Ministry’s Virtual learning site was activated with content for students of all grade levels. About 9,000 students were registered.
In
2019, Learning Management System, called One n One, a collaboration with the
Bahamas Telecommunication Company Limited (BTC), The Cable & Wireless Foundation and Sandals
Foundation was offered to assist the Ministry of Education to provide three (3)
months of dedicated remote, online classes for Public School students displaced
by Hurricane Dorian, in Abaco, Grand Bahama and other Family Islands.
Throughout the period of engagement, students and teachers were engaged in a
virtual classroom on weekends on the One-on-One virtual platform, to take them
through much needed lessons on the five (5) core high school subjects,
including Mathematics and Language for the BJC & BGCSE curricula.
This
week, Cabinet will consider a proposal to supplement the instruction being
offered via its own Virtual Schooling initiative, by providing remote
instructions via the One-on-One platform for all students in Grades K-12 in the
public and private sectors, from April – June, 2020. Covid-19 has created a tremendous learning
gap, Mr. Speaker, that if not addressed, can result in a potentially
irrecoverable deficit for students in the Bahamian education sector.
Weekend Cabinet Meeting in The Bahamas
There
is currently no data available on Private sector students receiving virtual
learning, the Ministry of Education has received many requests for general
financial assistance, and now increased grant-in-aid subventions since
Hurricane Dorian, when a number of the New Providence based private schools
took in a number of displaced students, particularly students from Abaco.
Since
the COVID 19 Crisis, anecdotal evidence affirms that many private institutions
are struggling with the provision of on- line classes, particularly for their
students who have no internet connectivity.
In this regard, the One On One proposal for facilitating pre-recorded
lessons via Flo TV makes this proposal particularly critical for the Ministry
of Education.
This
arrangement would enable all teachers in The Bahamas in public and private
schools to access live, remote classes with their students for a period of two
and a half months, commencing on April 20th, 2020, while exercising social
distancing in the context of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
I
ask parents/guardians and care-givers to please register their students. Go to www.ministryofeducationbahamas.com, web page. You will see a link that
says virtual learning portal, click on that; and register. For those already
registered, simply go to your respective grades, and begin your work. Registered students have received their
learning schedules, so they know the times for their classes. The virtual
learning space mirrors exactly what the students would be doing in a regular
school day – two periods in the morning, a break, two more periods, then lunch.
The same thing.
Mr.
Speaker, in the midst of this crisis, the MOE is aware of the psycho-social
support that many may need to help them cope. Thus, I am pleased to announce
that Isra-Aid, a Non-Profit entity, and Ms. Imri Grinberg, The Bahamas Head of
Mission, has been invaluable a resource in providing critical ne
They
created a series of modules of interactive webinars to reach the entire staff
in the coming weeks. Our purpose is twofold: to provide psychosocial assistance
to the staff and to give the school counselors and teachers effective tools to
support the students. They have been collaborating with the Guidance and
Counselling Unit and the Superintendents to coordinate future dates for
engagements.
Last
Friday, Isra-Aid launched its first webinar “Dealing with
Uncertainty” for the school counselors, which was extremely successful.
There was very good feedback with 96 unique participants.
Access
to Education
With
the establishment of the Virtual School, and the paucity of devices of internet
services for a significant swath of our student population, they have committed
to ensuring that no student is left behind. IsraAID is endeavoring the
following initiatives:
1.
Procurement of tablets, solar chargers, data packages for students in Abaco. Also
planning to include an information toolkit for children and parents with
additional activities.
2.
Assisting the MOE’s Staff in monitoring the attendance and participation of
students in the Virtual School.
3.
Helping in the creation of online content including webinars, videos, and
activities related to education, hygiene promotion, well-being, and recreation
to collaborate and approved by the MoE and added to the Virtual School.
4.
Creating and distributing printed content packets for students who currently do
not have online access.
Mr.
Speaker, our Ministry and Department Teams have been working virtually around
the clock to expand the offering of the virtual school, and assist the many
thousands of Bahamian students now affected by this pandemic. I am deeply appreciative of all those
technical officers within the Department of Education and the scores of
teachers and school administrators who have answered the call ensure that our
students’ education does not have to stop because of the Coronavirus. Proud of Permanent Secretary Mrs. Lorraine
Armbrister and Education Director, Mr. Marcellus Taylor, for their stellar
leadership in delivery this new platform for our students and teachers.
Whether
it was the development of the Virtual Learning platform, production of learning
resources, establishing and facilitating virtual learning classes, offering training
and support to Administrators, Teachers, parents and students, all of these
efforts are appreciated greatly. We are
grateful and the Bahamas is proud of you for your invaluable contribution to
the country’s development.
The
Problem, Mr. Speaker, and for which we do not now have the data is how many
students in our system do not have internet access? Or if they do, do not have
a device with which to access the internet, and thus continue with their
learning.
We
are advised anecdotally, that there is between 10-20% of our students who may
be so deprived. If so, we are looking at 10,000 students in the public sector
alone. This, I can assure You, Sir, as noted previously is being addressed.
To
that end, the Ministry is now working with our Providers, Aliv and BTC, in
designing a platform where internet-deprived students, or device-challenged
students the internet capability, get
devices, and alternatively, view their lessons on two dedicated Cable Channels
that will be populated with the appropriate content for their use.
That
is why, as we move forward, All hands must be on deck to assist in advancing
our Virtual Learning activities. As I
stated on March 18 in this Honourable Chamber,
Though
Teachers and students are away from Campus, learning and teaching MUST continue. End of term exams have to be
calculated. National Exams have to re-fashioned. Schools all over the world are
scrambling to adjust to this new environment, whether it their admission
requirements, assessment modules, etc.
This
is not a vacation. The school system has already lost precious instructional
and learning time due to Hurricane Dorian. We cannot afford a single day further
in lost educational time. Teachers and school administrators, while separated
physically from their students, will be asked to undertake the following:
Please
keep in mind that this is new territory and as we navigate these uncharted
waters, we will seek to provide you with the guidance needed to have success.
As Prime Minister stated Sunday night in his national update, the Govt’s
decisions in this COVID-19 reality are based on the facts and the best medical
and scientific information
possible.
As he asked the nation, I repeat in my advice to Educators throughout the
system, please be guided by health officials and reliable information from
credible sources.
Further
to all this, Mr. Speaker, is our students of developmental or alternatively
learning abilities. They have to be supported and taught as well. We are
addressing this as we speak, but it has its challenges.
Remember,
we are in this together and when you succeed, we all success and the students
and the country are the beneficiaries.
We are one team with one goal!
Rest
assured that the Ministry of Education is committed fully to the education of
all students in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and we will do our best to
provide them with a quality education without regard to the circumstances. We are aware that some students do not have
access to the Internet or devises and we are exploring ways to reduce or
eliminate these access to education issues.
LUNCH PROGRAM
There
are some 4200 public school students on our lunch voucher program, as
identified by the Dept of Social Svcs.
Recognizing that the need for continued sustenance must be maintained,
the Ministry organized a deliver system for the distribution of the vouchers to
the affected students and their families. Approx. 55% of vouchers collected in
NP and 45% in GB. Fam. Is. 100%
issued. Transportation appears to be key
issue. Xtra Vaue and Budget had issues
with printing od vouchers. Should be
resolved this week. Team would like to
ask security personnel at the various schools in New Providence to assist with
issuing the remainder of the vouchers in NP & GB. Due to the short week and the need to write
up 2700 vouchers for NP and 1500 for GB the new vouchers will not be distributed
until 15 to 17 April.
PROPOSED REVISED EXAMINATION DATES
The
MOE is reviewing our natl exam schedule closely, and guided by the facts and
science, will be making announcement as soon as all the data needed to make
that decision is available to us.
Additionally,
many have called asking about the re-opening of schools.
Mr.
Speaker, as the PM just announced, this curfew and intermittent lockdown will
continue until the end of April, 2020.
Therefore,
schools will not re-open until certainly after that, but not until the
Competent Authority – The PM – gives the Order to do so.
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#TheBahamas, May 20, 2022 – The Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited (GBPA) will commence its $1.1 million road resurfacing project in Freeport, Grand Bahama on Sunday, May 22, 2022 beginning with the Fishing Hole Road, and West Atlantic and Adventures Way roundabout.
“Our City Maintenance and Management section is excited to begin this important initiative to resurface roadways within Freeport,” said Troy McIntosh, GBPA Deputy Director of Building and Development Services. “Our city has been through many challenging storm events which did catastrophic damage to infrastructure around the island, including our roads.
“But our community is resilient, and we are seeing a positive shift in the economic tide,” continued McIntosh. “Excitement for future opportunities and anticipation of new investments is palpable through the city, so we knew this was the ideal time to start this aspect of Freeport’s much-needed makeover to which GBPA is fully committed.”
Roadworks are scheduled for main thoroughfares and a number of residential roads. These areas include the Fishing Hole Road, West Atlantic and Adventures Way roundabout, West Atlantic Drive at Rayvin Mall roundabout, Beach Way Drive, Bahama Reef Boulevard, Pioneers Way, Waterfall Drive, Tarrytown Street and Grand Bahama Highway. “We selected these locations using our Road Rating System, which allows inspectors to assess the condition and rideability of our roads on an annual basis,” added Mr. McIntosh.
The GBPA roadworks project went out to bid in December 2020. In March 2022, the bid was awarded to Bahamas Hot Mix (BHM), who specializes in heavy civil engineering projects including major highways.
“We ask motorists to drive with due care and attention while roadwork is underway,” Mr. McIntosh advised. Flagmen and temporary traffic lights will be in position to direct traffic. Please obey the speed limit and posted signs to help ensure the safety of all motorists and crews as they conduct work. Delays are expected as there will be partial lane closures in some areas.”
The initial phase of road resurfacing is scheduled to be completed at the end of June 2022. For the latest updates and information on redirected travel routes, residents can follow any of the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s social media sites or visit its website at www.gbpa.com.
#TheBahamas, May 19, 2022 – A waterspout whirling its way onto shore in the west, images of submerged cars, impassable roads and even fish darting around in a flooded backyard were the testimony of Nassau’s extreme weather weekend.
The Bahamas Department of meteorology had predicted severe weather from Friday midday to Saturday warning of, “GUSTY WINDS, DANGEROUS LIGHTNING, HEAVY DOWNPOURS, HAIL AND POSSIBLE WATERSPOUT OR TORNADIC ACTIVITY and possibly LOCALIZED FLOODING.”
Reports of hail, the freakish funnel cloud, downpour flooded streets, submerged cars and stranded workers trying to get home made for a shocking weekend.
There were dramatic videos of the forecast, waterspouts, which made an appearance near seaside restaurants Sapodilla Bay and Traveller’s Rest. The ‘water tornado’ slashing against parked cars, producing whipping winds and tossing water into the restaurant elicited screams and frantic activity as residents could be heard rushing to safety.
The storm is unseasonably early with the official start to the hurricane season still two weeks away; but it maintains a trend for severe weather consistently appearing well ahead of the official June 1 start.
On Tuesday waterspouts erupted in the bay off Harbour Island, Eleuthera, also in The Bahamas as the country was inundated this week with SEVERE WEATHER ALERTS issued by The Bahamas Department of Meteorology.
The latest forecast as weekend approaches is there will be more of the same.
“EXTENDED FORECAST (FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS): A TROPICAL WAVE, SKIRTING THE
SOUTHERN PERIPHERY OF THE BAHAMAS, WILL PROGRESSIVELY MOVE WESTWARDS AND
INFLUENCE AN INFLUX OF MOISTURE NORTHWESTWARDS OVER THE BAHAMAS, KEEPING
RAIN CHANCES IN THE FORECAST INTO SATURDAY.”
The first tropical wave of 2022 has been identified but a pre-season storm is not yet expected. There have been pre-season tropical storms for the past seven years in a row according to WWLTV and the season is expected to be more severe than usual.
“An above-average season with major hurricane landfalls in the U.S.and in the Caribbean is unfortunately likely. Accuweather experts predict.
“16-20 named storms and six to eight hurricanes. Of those hurricanes, about three to five are forecast to reach major hurricane status.”
Boaters and swimmers in the two archipelagos – The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands – were warned to be cautious as well, “BOATERS SHOULD REMAIN VIGILANT DUE TO THE THREAT OF POSSIBLE WATERSPOUT ACTIVITY. BEACHGOERS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION DUE TO THE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS,” the Meteorology Department said.
#TheBahamas, May 18, 2022 – The Hon. Philip Davis, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, has underscored the government’s commitment to “strengthening” and “deepening” its “unmatched” legacy of providing access to decent, affordable housing to Bahamians.
“My government is acutely aware of the current housing shortage in The Bahamas and the backlog of housing applications at the Mortgage Corporation of The Bahamas (BMC),” said Prime Minister Davis.
“Our BMC Executive Chair, Barbara Cartwright, is committed to expediting those applications and assigning without delay, suitably qualified housing applicants.
“I believe the number of applications at BMC in just the last eight months is in excess of 3,500. This housing demand suggests that we move with urgency and dispatch.”
In this vein, the government, Monday, along with stakeholders, unveiled The Renaissance at Carmichael, a housing sub-division on 70 acres of crown land off Carmichael Road in Western New Providence.
Executives of the government and public-private partnerships (PPP) participated in a ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, May 16, 2022 at the Office of the Prime Minister, which will allow Bahamian families the ability to open the doors to 200 new homes.
The subdivision is being funded by a PPP arrangement between the Government, a $20 million backing from PROVEN Wealth Ltd. through Simplified Lending, the Mortgage Corporation of the Bahamas and financiers.
Dignitaries in attendance: the Hon. Jobeth Coleby-Davis, Minister of Transport and Housing; the Hon. Vaughn Miller, Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources; the Hon. Pia Glover-Rolle, Minister of State for the Public Service; Leroy Major, Executive Chairman, Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation; Nicole Campbell, Secretary to the Cabinet; David Davis and Antoinette Thompson, Permanent Secretaries; Barbara Cartwright, Chairman, Bahamas Mortgage Corporation; Oral Lafleur, Acting Chief Housing Officer; and Thomas Ferguson, Acting Director of Housing. Representatives of private sector partners: Robert Pantry, Founder and CEO, Simplified Lending; Johann Heaven, President and CEO, PROVEN Wealth Limited.
Prime Minister Davis assured that as the economy fully opens and grows, the government expects to expand PPPs in other areas of national economy including public infrastructure providing investments, ownership and job opportunities for Bahamians.
Minister Coleby-Davis said the initiative will set a new standard in affordable housing by which other housing developments will be measured.
She described today’s signing is an “historic” milestone which can be attributed to the commitment of the government to bring to fruition a concept from an idea to reality.
“With this project we intend to create an estate where a sense of community thrives. There will be lit streets, sidewalks; a park where children can play safely and family gatherings can take place. Neighbors will be able to come together and interact as our families were able to do many years ago.
Formerly known as Carmichael Village Sub-division, the community will comprise 104 single family, two and three-bedroom residences, and eight two-storey condominium buildings with 12 units each.
In a video presentation Minister Coleby-Davis said, “Thanks to Simplified Lending, a Bahamian company which secured funding through a leading regional finance company called PROVEN. Many who only dreamed of home ownership will be able to walk through the front door to their new lives in less than one year.”
She informed that homes will be built to the highest quality with steel frame construction, storm-rated windows and doors, attractive facades and strong concrete foundations raised three feet above road level.
“Thanks to careful design, planning and exemptions on certain building supplies, every home will remain in the affordable price range opening doors to home ownership starting at $130,000,” she said.
Mr. Heaven said, “This transaction today will be primarily funded through the Bahamian portion of our Heritage education fund which is a regional education savings plan that is over 30 years old and is a household name for saving for your children’s tertiary education.”
The government broke ground for Pinecrest Sub-Division, a 43-lot community in Southern New Providence in January of this year.
Release: BIS
BIS Photos/Patrick Hanna
Header: From left: Antoinette Thompson, Permanent Secretary; the Hon. Jobeth Coleby-Davis, Minister of Transport and Housing; Nicole Campbell, Secretary to the Cabinet and the Hon. Philip Davis, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.
1st insert: The Hon. Philip Davis, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, is pictured speaking at the signing of Memorandum of Understanding for The Renaissance at Carmichael, a new sub-division in western New Providence.
2nd insert: The Hon. Jobeth Coleby-Davis, Minister of Transport and Housing and Johann Heaven, President and CEO, PROVEN Wealth Ltd., after ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.