One year on, Education CoI granted extension

The Commission of Inquiry (COI) which was launched into the state of the education system in April 2016 has been extended by a month.

The final report from the Commissioners is expected to be delivered at the end of this month. Minister of State, Joseph Harmon on Thursday (April 20, 2017), disclosed that the Commissioners sought additional time which was granted.

He explained that Cabinet has chosen to grant the one month, because of the importance that the final document would play in addressing the revamping of the system, to provide quality education, to the nation.

The government in April 2016, launched an inquiry into the education system, with the aim of gathering “evidential basis” for the revision, upgrading and extension of the system.

The COI, set up to conduct this probe, would have held hearings across the country with parents,  guardians, teachers, religious leaders, unions and the private sector on their perception of the state of the education system, as well as recommendations for its enhancement. These series of engagements stretched into late November, with the COI having a number of extensions.

When presented, the recommendations of the COI are expected to feed into the administrative policy and legislative process to govern the education sector.

With an imposition of a 14% Value Added Tax on private education, there have been increased calls for an upgrade of the public education system.