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Education system needs to be revamped 7/4/2012 One observation coming out of the Commission of Inquiry into the Alexandra School is that the education system in this country needs work. Yesterday, as the Inquiry continued its second day at the Gymnasium of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex, Chief Education Officer, Laurie King, was questioned by three of the members of counsel from the various interest groups involved. During the almost six-hour long interrogation of King, by counsel of the Commission, Michael Yearwood, BSTU counsel, Hal Gollop, and Principal Broomes’ counsel, Vernon Smith, many shortcomings in the education system were identified. Many of the troubling issues are relating to areas where the legislation is not clear, and therefore leaves room for misinterpretation, allowing for disputes like this at the Alexandra School to crop up across the board. The legal counsel for all parties pointed to several issues in the Education Act and Regulations, and the Chief Education Officer even admitted to making his own notes on his personal copy of the document where necessary changes could be made. So obvious were these shortcomings that Principal Broomes’ counsel, Vernon Smith, requested to have the Chief Education Officer return to the witness seat this morning so that they could continue to be discussed. Smith’s determination is that coming out of the Commission of Inquiry should not only be a solution to the Alexandra School dispute, but some kind of reform for the education system. “When we are finished with this Inquiry, I hope that the whole education system will be changed ... I would like to deal with the legislation,” Smith stressed. (AN) Email us your comments. | Top

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