The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday criticised the government for its “failed” investments in education, further slamming the Christie administration for failing to build “one single high school” during its two nonconsecutive terms in office.

He said a government led by him would provide full scholarships and housing for Family Island students to attend the College of the Bahamas as well as a monthly stipend.

Dr Minnis also questioned the government’s adding of $1.6bn to The Bahamas’ national debt over the past three years, as well as the dramatic increase in the Office of the Prime Minister’s contingency provision from $29,000 the previous fiscal year to $2m, all while “we still do not have a much needed new high school.”

“This PLP continues to talk about doubling the investment in education, yet this government has not built one single high school in its two terms in office; not one high school in nine years,” Dr Minnis said in a statement. “Where did the money go? Where did the $1.6b of borrowed money go? We know the prime minister was able to give himself a $2m slush fund to use in this election year, yet we still do not have a much needed new high school.”

Dr Minnis also lamented the current modus operandi of the public school system, charging that it graduates “far too many students with a D grade average.”

“We have to stop social promotion,” Dr Minnis said. “If a child cannot read or write, sending he or she forward to a higher class only breeds anger and frustration. We have to stop this notion that every child should go into a purely academic stream. No child should leave grade two without knowing how to read and write and do basic arithmetic.”

He added: “The public education system must provide programmes to ensure that every child emerges from grade 12 with a marketable skill. The FNM will initiate properly staffed, active community centres, where enterprise, music, art, seamanship and various marketable skills are provided free of cost to our young and not so young citizens.

“Every Bahamian child must have equal access to the best quality education that the country provides,” Dr Minnis added. “Family Island students should not be denied access to a college education because of geography and/or financial circumstances, hence the FNM will provide full scholarships, and housing to qualified Family Island students to attend the College of the Bahamas campus in Nassau and/or Freeport. In addition, Family Island students will be provided with a monthly stipend.”