The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

THE government spent around $9m to repair hurricane damage to public schools throughout the country, according to Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald, who said yesterday that works have been “significantly completed”.

Mr Fitzgerald said the ministry expected to complete all outstanding work ahead of the opening of schools in New Providence next week.

“The school repairs are significantly completed throughout the country,” he said. “I can tell you that the total cost of the repairs were in the region of $9 million throughout the country and most of those are complete, and we expect that prior to school opening next week in New Providence the remainder of those that are outstanding will be done.”

Hurricane Matthew left large sections of New Providence, Andros and Grand Bahama devastated in October.

Government High School in the capital and Walker Parker Primary in Grand Bahama were the hardest hit by Hurricane Matthew, according to the Ministry of Education.

Mr Fitzgerald provided the estimation on the total cost of hurricane repairs at a press conference to announce that the government will host the Ninth Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Education (9IAMME).

At the two-day conference, ministers of education are expected to discuss recent regional developments and challenges, and chart the way forward for the 34 representatives of the Organization of Americas States (OAS), and observer states.

For the first time in its history, the OAS meeting will feature a trade exhibition of innovative education products from 20 local and international presenters.

The 2017 forum will also feature reporting from the three working groups established at last year’s meeting in Panama City, Panama; the groups focused on the themes: Quality and Equitable Education; Strengthening of the Teaching Profession; and Early Childhood Care.

Mr Fitzgerald said: “The Bahamas has been at the helm of the global education discussion. We have made significant strides in education and have garnered international attention.”

The event will be staged at Atlantis resort, Paradise Island on February 9 and 10.