Ministry rethinks P1 enrolment at St George’s Prep
The Government has made an about-turn on its decision to halt P1 enrolment at St George’s Preparatory School after a meeting with the PTA ahead of the next school year.
Diallo Rabain, the Minister of Education, made a statement in Parliament yesterday and addressed parents who gathered outside Veritas Place, where the House of Assembly was in session.
Mr Rabain also provided updates on the transition plans for students of Whitney Institute Middle School, which have been a concern for parents of children at that school.
Members of St George’s Prep PTA recently spoke out about the decision to stop P1 enrolment at its school given that the outgoing children would be required to move to East End Primary while it was still under construction.
The PTA said it was not warned or consulted about the decision to stop Primary 1 enrolments in several schools only two weeks before registration for the 2025-26 school year.
Mr Rabain told those gathered at Veritas Place that he had met the PTA at St George’s Prep on Thursday evening, where the original plan and revised plan to continue enrolment were discussed.
While a statement delivered by Mr Rabain earlier in the day stated that the ministry had stuck with its original decision, this turned out to be incorrect.
In a corrected statement, Mr Rabain explained the Government would continue P1 enrolment.
He said the original decision to halt enrolment was chosen because it was considered “less disruptive for families and students, with fewer younger students needing to transition to a new school”.
Mr Rabain said: “While we discussed the pros and cons of both options, the PTA expressed a preference for the second option, citing better planning and immediate stability for families.
“We approve the requested P1 enrolment and we respect their position, and will collaborate closely with them to support the school community through this transition.”
A spokesman for the PTA thanked the minister for listening to the concerns of the PTA.
Diallo Rabain, the Minister of Education, outlined some key changes to education reform. They are as follows:
• More autonomy for schools: “We’re introducing an Education Authority to give schools more control over making decisions that meet the needs of their students through the school-level boards that will have the responsibility to hire principals and teachers, for example.”
• Community-based schools: “Parish primary schools will provide high-quality and culturally relevant education, fostering a sense of belonging for students and families in the parish communities they serve.”
• Better facilities: “We’re upgrading school buildings to create safe, modern learning environments.”
He said the PTA wanted to be involved in the implementation of the St George’s Parish primary school and ensure that the East End Primary building was safe before opening.
Registration for all primary schools has been extended until December 6 as a result of the concerns.
Representatives of Gilbert Institute and Whitney Institute Middle School were also present at the protest.
During Parliament, the Government also provided "clarity“ on the transition plan for students of Whitney Institute Middle School amid parent concerns that children are advancing to senior school too early.
Mr Rabain issued a letter to parents and guardians saying the school will continue to operate as a middle school “until further notice”.
He said a town hall meeting would be held on Monday for parents of middle school students.
Parents can register for the meeting via the following link: https://bit.ly/Middle_School_TownHall.
Mr Rabain said that starting in September 2025, significant changes would begin to align the school system with the new two-tier structure.
• M3 students:
In September 2025, all students currently in M3 will transition into the final year of the existing four-year senior school programme.
• M2 students:
Students in M2 will move into the newly introduced five-year senior school programme in September 2025.
• Phasing out of middle schools:
This marks the beginning of the phased closure of middle schools as we transition to a two-tier system.
Under this two-tier system:
– Years 1 to 8 will be housed at parish primary schools.
– Years 9 to 13 will constitute senior school education.
Middle schools across the island will no longer accommodate students in M3 after the end of the current school year in June 2025.
• Future of M1 and M2 students:
Any student entering M1 after this school year will complete their middle school education after their M2 year and proceed directly to the senior school programme.
He added: “We are committed to ensuring that this process is as seamless as possible and will provide additional updates and support as needed.
“We understand that change can bring questions and concerns, and we are here to assist.”
A parent of a child at Whitney attended the gathering outside Veritas Place and addressed Mr Rabain. She reiterated segments of a letter that had been sent to the minister previously, as recently reported by The Royal Gazette, saying the decision must not be taken in haste.
Ben Smith, the shadow education minister, has said he is “deeply concerned” about the Government’s education reform plans.
He said in a statement that parents of children at Gilbert Institute and Prospect Primary School, which are slated to close in June 2025, were left scrambling to find alternative schools for their children, only to discover that institutions are already at capacity.
Mr Smith said that parents were either choosing to put their children in private education or, in some cases such as those who cannot afford private school, leaving the island all together.
Mr Smith said: “The resulting anxiety among students, parents and teachers is palpable. It is imperative that their voices are heard and their concerns addressed.
“Disruptions in their [students] educational journey can lead to emotional distress and academic setbacks.
“Teachers, who are the backbone of our education system, are also facing uncertainty regarding their placements and the continuity of their careers.
“Parents are left in a state of confusion, unsure of where their children will continue their education.
“It is crucial that the Government provides clear communication and support to all stakeholders during this transition.”
The Ministry of Education did not respond to questions on the matter by press time.
A spokesman for the PTA of Gilbert said during a gathering at Veritas Place yesterday: “Under the pressure of having to register our children starting on Monday for new schools in our district, we are very concerned that we have not yet had the privilege of meeting with the minister.
“We have requested a meeting and hopefully that will happen in the near future where we can effectively give you our concerns and properly deal with the situation of the closing of Gilbert Institute.
“We are under the gun to pick a school that we feel is best but we know we will be told where we are going to go once we submit our applications next week. We are concerned that the school may not be ready to accept the amazing students at Gilbert Institute.”
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