Minister of Education Grant Gibbons will meet with parents later this month to discuss proposed legislation aimed at introducing School Community Councils (SCCs).

Speaking in the House of Assembly this morning, Dr Gibbons acknowledged the demand from parents for a greater say in their children’s education, and said he would meet with Parent Teacher Associations at CedarBridge Academy on Thursday, May 29.

“Parental involvement in children’s education is absolutely essential for the improvement of public education in Bermuda and around the world,” Dr Gibbons said. “It is common knowledge that parental involvement makes a difference in the success of the education of children. Parents are their children’s first teachers; they watch them grow, and are a consistent source of guidance and support throughout their school careers.

“There have been growing voices among many parents — who state that they want more information, more understanding, and more say in their children’s education. They want to be part of the change that the public education system is making for our children.

“I have heard the calls of parents, and have responded by asking PTAs and their general membership to engage the Ministry of Education and Economic Development in a public consultation process to amend the Education Act 1996.”

He said the proposed amendments would introduce SCCs as a means of increasing parental involvement in education and improve governance in the Island’s public schools, saying: “The focus is to keep student achievement in mind because we want a system that holds the best interests of children at heart.”

Dr Gibbons described SCCs as advisory bodies made up of parents, community representatives and principals dedicated to school improvements and student achievement. Under the proposed system, five SCCs would be established, each representing four or five primary and middle schools.

“This aspect of the proposals comes directly from parents who felt that boards for every school might be an unnecessary burden on individual schools and their communities, but could be a viable option for certain schools at a later point,” he explained. “These proposals would not affect the CedarBridge Academy, or aided schools which have existing boards of governors.

“A common theme throughout the earlier consultation was the need for information sharing about what is happening at the school level. These proposals give SCCs — who would represent wider school communities — the opportunity to participate directly in the budget process, policy development, support parent and community involvement and school-community relations.”

He also stated that SCCs would have the right to ‘weigh in’ on involuntary school transfers of teachers and principals initiated by the Department of Education, but principals and teachers who want to transfer out of their school would not need to be considered by SCCs.

Dr Gibbons said the SCCs would work alongside the Island’s Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs), saying: “I believe SCCs would help to strengthen the roles of PTAs because parents would now be formally represented in the larger governance structure that supports schools and the public education system.”

He urged PTA members, parents and members of the community to read the public consultation document that details the proposed amendments, stating that the document can be obtained from the Department’s website at www.moed.bm.

He added: “I look forward to seeing all PTA members and other parents at next week Thursday’s public consultation meeting where they will hear more about the proposals and have the opportunity to give their views.”