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Re-Opening schools in TCI in this COVID-19 era; Q&A with the MoEYCSLS

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Questions & Answers with the TCI Ministry of Education, Youth, Culture, Social & Library Services

Magnetic Media: What will happen to students whose parents have to work; what has MOE, which is also responsible for youth and social welfare, set up to support such families?

TCI Ministry of Education: The Ministry through the Department of Social Services and the Department of Education are working closely together to provide support and guidance to parents wherever possible.

Magnetic Media: What is current registration; I am told some grades at the primary level are at capacity.  Many parents are no longer able to pay for private school education.  What provision is being made to accommodate families impacted by the economic fall-out caused by COVID-19?

TCI Ministry of Education: Registration for the 2020/21 school year for entry into Preschool 1 (Infant 1) and Form 1 of high school was conducted from 1st June to 30th June 2020.  The available spaces at both levels have been filled and the Ministry of Education is negotiating with private schools in the Private School Subsidy Programme to place students who did not get places in public schools.

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Magnetic Media: How many students are in need of laptops or devices to participate in virtual learning?  Is there a count; what is currently available and what needs to be obtained to ensure every learner is able to participate?

TCI Ministry of Education: Based on submissions made to the Department of Education, there are approximately 750 students indicated as needing a tablet or laptop.  The Ministry of Education purchased 500 tablets to be distributed to students based on a needs analysis.  An additional 250 tablets/laptops have been ordered.

Magnetic Media: Work had started on EMIS; an electronic education management system introduced to the public during the release of the newest Education Policy.  Where is that program currently?  It is my understanding this program will help to ensure, among other things quality learning?

TCI Ministry of Education: OpenEMIS is an open-source Education Management Information System designed to manage education systems; collect and report data on student attendance, behaviour, and progress; collect and manage data on teacher qualifications and attendance; and manage data on educational institutions to optimize resources and services.  EMIS is being used in public schools and the Ministry of Education.  Private schools have been registered on EMIS and they are being trained to use the system. OpenEMIS is a data collection and management software is not a teaching and learning software.

Magnetic Media: Why is TCICC roped in with primary and high schools; these are young adults more capable of maintaining social distancing and health protocols.  I would think this age group is more capable of coping… 

TCI Ministry of Education: The Turks and Caicos Islands Community College operates independently of primary and high schools.  The College has a Board of Governors who gives oversight to is operations and the Board, informed by recommendations from the President of the College, arrived at a decision that is in the best interest of the students served by the college, faculty members and other stakeholders.  The Board, President of the College and the Ministry of Education will review the strategy for reopening and changes will be made as deemed necessary and safe.   

Magnetic Media: Precisely, why did you (MOE) abort the hybrid learning option?

TCI Ministry of Education: The Ministry of Education proposed a blended or hybrid approach to teaching and learning for the commencement of the 2020/21 academic year before the close of the 2020/2019 year.  Coming out on a discussion with the Ministry of Health and understanding the implications for teaching and learning in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Education supported a blended approach to schooling as the model for the reopening of schools.   This is captured in the draft guidelines that were developed and continues to be a feature of the guidelines.  A hybrid/blended approach is outlined in the Roadmap for Reopening schools.  The decision to reopen schools as online only for the first three weeks after formal teaching and learning begin was based on the number of positive Covid-19 cases recorded in the country before the official start of the 2020/21 school year.  This can hardly be seen as an abortion of the hybrid approach but rather as the Ministry taking steps to secure the health and safety of students as opposed to putting them directly in harm’s way.

Ministry of Education responses are from September 8, 2020

Magnetic Media is a Telly Award winning multi-media company specializing in creating compelling and socially uplifting TV and Radio broadcast programming as a means for advertising and public relations exposure for its clients.

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Fredrico Johnson Appointed to Permanent Secretary

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Turks and Caicos, November 2, 2024 – The Office of the Deputy Governor is excited to announce the appointment of Fredrico Johnson to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Mr. Johnson is a distinguished senior management leader with over ten years of experience in both public and private sectors.  Most recently, he served as Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Home Affairs, where he directed the development and implementation of essential policies, ensured public service accountability, and promoted strategic initiatives focused on talent development and succession planning. His contributions to policy development included leading a delegation to the Bahamas for insights into a local government policy initiative and addressing public service backlogs, which greatly enhanced operational efficiency.

Additionally, Mr. Johnson previously served as District Commissioner, managing government services, projects, and financial planning on the island while collaborating with various government departments to deliver critical community services.

Currently, Mr. Johnson is pursuing a Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Walden University (expected 2025) and holds a Bachelor of Science in Management with a concentration in International Business from Johnson & Wales University. His ongoing professional development includes certifications in emergency management, urban search and rescue, and results-driven development.

In response to his appointment, Mr. Johnson shared his thoughts: “I am deeply honoured and humbled to be appointed as the Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Home Affairs. This role presents an incredible opportunity to serve our nation and its people, and I am driven by the belief that we must let our passion drive our success. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to my support system and mentors, who have offered encouragement, guidance, and prayers throughout the years. Their unwavering support has been invaluable on this journey. A special thank you goes to Permanent Secretary James Astwood for his exemplary leadership over the past few years. His dedication and commitment have laid a strong foundation for us to build upon. I am also grateful to our Deputy Governor for her visionary approach, which has provided young leaders in the public service with the platform to grow, flourish, and lead. To the entire team, I am excited to work alongside you as we continue progressing and enhancing our ministry’s service to the public. Together, I am confident we will achieve great things.”

H.E. Anya Williams, Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service, expressed her congratulations, stating, “It is with great enthusiasm that I congratulate Mr. Johnson on his appointment to Permanent Secretary. Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and a deep commitment to public service. He assisted in leading strategic initiatives that not only improved operational efficiency but also significantly elevated the level of service within the Ministry of Home Affairs. I have every confidence that he will bring the same dedication and innovative thinking to this new role, and I look forward to witnessing the continued positive impact he will have on the Ministry and the public service at large.

Congratulations to Mr. Johnson on your well-deserved promotion”.

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Edgar Howell appointed as Deputy Secretary

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Turks and Caicos, November 2, 2024 – The Office of the Deputy Governor is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Edgar Howell as the new Deputy Secretary within the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, and Culture.

Mr. Howell brings a rich educational background, holding an Associates Degree in Biology from the College of the Bahamas (now the University of the Bahamas), a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology and Biochemistry from the University of the West Indies, and a Master’s Degree with distinction in Education Management. He embodies the philosophy that “Education is a lifelong journey,” continually pursuing professional development opportunities that enhance his skills and benefit his responsibilities.

Most recently, Mr. Howell served as Director of Education for fifteen years, following a five-year tenure as Deputy Director of Education. His extensive experience also includes four years of teaching Math, Chemistry, and Integrated Science at Clement Howell High School and one year as Head Teacher at Oseta Jolly Primary School.

Mr. Edgar Howell shared his thoughts on his new role, “Stephen Covey advised – ‘You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage—pleasantly, smilingly, non-apologetically, to say ‘no’ to other things. And the way you do that is by having a bigger ‘yes’ burning inside.’ I accepted that my bigger yes is to nation-building and focused on education and families. While this appointment as Deputy Permanent Secretary includes wider TCIG responsibilities, my values of Faith, Family, Patriotism, and Stewardship keep my bigger yes well aligned. My parents instilled a belief that ‘a charge to keep have I, a God to glorify…’ As always, I lean on the promise of Isaiah 41:10 – ‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

E. Anya Williams, Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service expressed her confidence in Mr. Howell’s capabilities, stating, “I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Howell on his new appointment. His unwavering dedication to the education sector over many years, coupled with his passion for nurturing the potential of our youth, is truly commendable. We eagerly look forward to the contributions he will further bring to our educational initiatives and the positive impact he will make in fostering the development of our community and the bright future of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Congratulations, Mr Howell, on your well-deserved promotion.”

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Turks and Caicos Cruise Tourism Earns US$116 million for 2023/2024  

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PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS  – Cruise Tourism in the Turks and Caicos Islands is booming, earning the destination a whopping US $116 million over the 2023/2024 period.

A new Business Research & Economic Advisors (BREA) report entitled “The Economic Contribution of Cruise Tourism to the Destination Economies, a Survey-based Analysis of the Impacts of Passenger, Crew and Cruise Line Spending” revealed that passenger and crew visits along with additional expenditures by the cruise lines and the destination itself generated a total of US$116.1 million in cruise tourism expenditure during the 2023/2024 cruise year.

The expenditure supported direct employment of 1,197 residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands paying $21.8 million in annual wages.

Quoting data collected from the Ministry of Tourism, the report said 945,040 cruise passengers arrived aboard cruise ships during the 2023/2024 cruise year. Of these, an estimated 796,670 passengers (84%) disembarked and visited the Grand Turk destination where the cruise port is located.

Utilising additional industry data and visiting cruise lines, the survey said 288,515 crew were aboard the cruise ships and 30 percent, or 87,710 crew, disembarked and visited the destination.

The report noted that passenger arrivals are up 15 percent from the last study in 2017/18.

“This is fantastic news, particularly for Grand Turk, our cruise capital,” said Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Josephine Connolly in response to the results of the surveys. “I am very proud of the work that our taxi drivers, tour operators, vendors and suppliers have been doing in Grand Turk to enhance the service and offerings to all who visit our shores. They have shown a commitment to truly develop the cruise industry and it is paying off.”

The Minister said that the Ministry of Tourism and Experience Turks and Caicos have been supporting tourism stakeholders in Grand Turk through a variety of initiatives.

“Through the TIDES programme from the Department of Tourism, we are ensuring that everyone is knowledgeable about the destination and can operate at a high standard. Experience Turks and Caicos recently held two workshops in collaboration with the Aquila Centre for Cruise Excellence in Product Development and Vendor Excellence for the cruise industry and the team has been working on developing new products such as Taste of Turks and Caicos which will introduce our enticing cuisine to cruise passengers every Thursday from November 7th as well as enhancing existing products with signage and maps,” Minister Connolly said.

The FCCA report is based on results from a survey conducted among passenger and crew onboard ships of member cruise lines. The surveys were undertaken during the eight-month period beginning in October 2023 and ending in May 2024 and were distributed onboard the ships via QR codes. Guests and crew completed the surveys online and they were only surveyed once during a cruise itinerary.

The survey found that passengers accounted for the group that spent the most followed by crew and cruise lines and destinations. For the entire 2023/2024 cruise year, the estimated 791,730 cruise passengers who disembarked and spent a total of US$81.4 million.

Passengers spent 73 percent of their onshore expenditure on shore excursions, watches and jewelry, and food and beverages.

Crew spent money on food and beverages, clothing, and other purchases which accounted for 74 percent of their onshore spending. For the entire 2023/2024 cruise year, the estimated 95,780 crew who went ashore and visited Grand Turk spent an estimated total of $4.5 million ($US).

Cruise lines made payments to local businesses for a variety of goods and services, including payments for port fees and taxes, navigation services, utilities and other supplies. The destination itself had employees and employee wages related to its cruise operations. Based upon data provided by the FCCA member cruise lines and the destination, the report estimates that cruise lines and the Turks and Caicos Islands itself were responsible for approximately $30.2 million in direct spending during the 2023/2024 cruise year.

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