Education
Ministry fails, no school again for Grand Turk Special Needs children
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, September 16, 2022 – Special needs children in Grand Turk will not be starting the new school year with other students; once again the Government has failed to ensure educational opportunities for all children.
Parents of special needs students set to start at the Ona Glinton Primary school in Grand Turk were again disappointed when nearly a week after school was supposed to start, they were told a staff shortage means their children will not be able to be accommodated. It is a disturbing repeat of previous years and a heartbreaking reality as the Ministry of Education has failed to get the desperately needed program off the ground.
On July 8 this year during a press conference to address the special needs situation, Minister of Education Rachel Taylor said: “We are at a critical turning point in our country and our special-needs community will not be left behind, you are at the forefront of our plans and programs, my government and I will ensure that you have all you need to progress. No effort will be spared in ensuring that the needs, infrastructure and programs are in place to fill the gaps.”
Yet, on Sunday afternoon parents were advised by school officials of the vacancies and told they would be informed as soon as the staff need was filled. Only then would their children be able to enter school.
It leaves special needs children in limbo and parents and the community angered.
As neuro-typical students advance, their special needs children remain behind, not due to a lack of ability or compliance with the law which demands children over four years be registered in a school; but due to the inadequate response by successive governments. 
In the press conference, Minister Taylor had said that the ministry had hired more special-needs teachers to deal with the growing population.
“We have on boarded additional special-needs teachers across the Turks and Caicos Islands so they can deal with the challenges. But that doesn’t mean we don’t need that special needs school and as a ministry we will deliver on that promise.” she said.
We now know based on a more recent back to school press conference it will take at least three more months for that school to open and it will open in phases instead of at full capacity. We also learned as many as 15 teachers quit TCIG abruptly leaving a public education in a lurch.
And while the government is giving a big pitch on the establishment of that special needs centre, sustainability may be an issue as the initial class size will be tiny; an admission from the Education Director Edgar Howell.
“It is the government’s remit to make sure that services are provided for all of our children. This means plans are afoot to create a special needs center that all of our children whether diagnosed or not. We will start with a small group of students and then build out our capacity,” said Howell.
Permanent Secretary Wesley Clerveaux and Special Needs Officer Jas Walkin both admitted that the Ministry was aware prior to the press conference and prior to the summer that there were not enough teachers for all special-needs students on the island. Yet appropriate steps have still not been taken and notices have come so very late.
It leaves parents now scrambling to implement an alternate plan for their children, who are being left behind by their peers in the same age group.
One resident in an open letter stated, “It does not seem to be a real concern for the public servants who swore on the Bible to serve the Turks and Caicos Islands— A shortage of staff may have created a shortage of services in the school system but it is abundantly clear that special needs are surely not being given priority.”
There have been reports in Providenciales as well of children being turned away from public schools having to enter the private system to give their children a chance at an education.
Every year the inability to register hundreds of students, complete refurbishment of schools and fill teacher gaps rears its ugly head. Residents express outrage as millions of dollars in surplus is celebrated while basic constitutional rights are sidelined and underserved.
Bahamas Information Services
GRAND BAHAMA, The Bahamas — On Saturday, August 23, 2025, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Grand Bahama and Member of Parliament for West Grand Bahama and Bimini, Kingsley Smith along with Deputy Director of Education for the Grand Bahama, Bimini, and The Cays District, Michelle Bowleg toured Holmes Rock Junior High School to assess ongoing progress and ensure the project remains on track to welcome students for the new academic term in September.
Following the tour, Smith expressed optimism regarding the ongoing progress, stating, “Having toured the site and seeing the work that is
being done on the weekend, shows the commitment and dedication to getting it completed.”
He also noted that after discussions with the contractors, he was assured that with sufficient manpower and around-the-clock work, the project remains on track for completion by September 1, 2025.
“One of our underlying goals is really access, so we are happy that the school will be up and ready for our students,” said Bowleg.
She highlighted that several zoom meetings were held with parents to keep them informed about key updates including booklists, uniforms, and staffing. According to Bowleg, feedback from parents has been overwhelmingly positive.
“It is a beautiful facility, one that parents will be very proud of, and the entire West Grand Bahama community,” she added.
(BIS Photos/Danielle Rollon)
-
Caribbean News7 days agoSandals Corporate University Wins Double Gold in AI Innovation and Hands-On Hospitality Training
-
Caribbean News2 days agoBermuda Shaken by Targeted Murder as Crime Returns After a Decade of Calm
-
TCI News4 days agoInvest Turks and Caicos Celebrates a Decade of Innovation and Impact at 4th Annual General Meeting
-
TCI News7 days agoHair Evolution 2025: Beauty, Fashion, and Community Take Center Stage in Turks and Caicos
-
TCI News7 days agoBeaches Turks and Caicos Builds Future Leaders Through Investment in Local Talent
-
Bahamas News7 days agoConflicting Reports as Grand Bahama Awaits Its New Airport: What to Believe?