In light of the Education Ministry’s announcement that it will be embarking on a voluntary National Summer School Programme, Opposition Spokesperson on Education, Dr Angela Brown Burke has expressed concern that the programme will not be accessed by those who need it most.

In a press release dated Wednesday (June 30), the Opposition stated that it had noted the statements made by the Education Minister as it relates to the National Summer School Programme set to begin on July 5, 2021, but felt that important questions in relation to the programme had been left unanswered.

Chief among these questions were:

1. Whether consultations had been made with teachers prior to the ministry’s decision?
2. In the event consultations were made, what were the suggestions of teachers for best use of time and resources ?
3. What will be done to ensure that the programmes offered can also be accessed by students without connectivity or devices?

While welcoming the inclusion of teachers who have been invited to make recommendations on student participation in the programme, Brown Burke is concerned that the voluntary nature of the summer school programme makes it likely that those students who most need additional help may not be the ones accessing it. 

As such, the Opposition is renewing its call for meaningful consultations with principals and teachers to ensure the development of a well-designed plan to address the major deficiencies that have contributed to underperformance and disengagement of students.