The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE government will spend about $14m this summer to prepare schools for the coming term, Press Secretary Anthony Newbold said yesterday.

This includes $7.2m in school repair contracts, $4.5m in building work contracts, $1.2m in electrical work contracts, $744k in air-conditioning contracts and $699,000 in plumbing work contracts.

It's unclear, however, when the Minnis administration will make good on its promise to launch a pilot programme featuring single gender classes and schools. Education Minister Jeff Lloyd told The Tribune in February last year the government planned to "immediately" implement a programme separating boys and girls. Believing "boys and girls learn differently," he said studies show that young adults thrive better in single gender classes. The promise was also featured in the FNM's 2017 manifesto.

Asked about the matter yesterday, Mr Newbold said it is "still being discussed". He said the matter is not on the "front burner right now".

"The minister of education himself believes that is the way to go but I think more technology is the focus but there is no timeline yet on the single-sex classes programme," he said, adding that nailing down the logistics of the programme has been a challenge for the administration.

Meanwhile, parliamentarians are today expected to debate the Economic Empowerment Zone Bill. Mr Newbold said they will seek to pass the bill today as well. Afterwards, they will take their summer recess until the end of September or early October. The Economic Empowerment Zone Bill will offer conditional tax concessions to qualified residents and businesses within the economic zone. Some bills not debated yet include the Fiscal Responsibility Bill, the Integrity Commission Bill and the bill establishing an Office of the Ombudsman. Mr Newbold suggested these bills will be on top of the government's agenda after its recess.