Ministry of Education Speaks on High School Promotions

Secondary schools are still working out what will happen for students when the new academic year starts in September. Will they all be promoted to a new class or will some other decision be taken based on academic performance?  That’s the question for many high school students and there are reports that some high schools do not support an automatic promotion. The Ministry of Education has announced that the education rules provide for automatic promotion of all students at the primary school level, but when it comes to the high schools, they must make that decision based on their respective policies. Today, the Ministry of Education issued a memo to all principals and management of secondary schools to “be reasonable and compassionate at this time by adjusting school policies and practices as necessary.” Chief Education Officer Doctor Carol Babb spoke with reporters today about the matter.

Carol Babb

Dr. Carol Babb, Chief Education Officer

“I know that we don’t have any control over their promotion and assessment policies. That is left o to the individual secondary schools so we are asking them that we know that they are the ones who will determine who will be promoted or who will not be promoted. But we are asking them to be compassionate and to realize that this is an extremely difficult time for everyone. So, wherever it is possible we are asking that children be promoted and be given the opportunity once they get into the new class provide them with support with interventions to ensure that they are up to speed and up to the level that teachers expect them to be. At the primary level, the education rules speak to automatic promotion and at the secondary level it is different. It is dependent on the high schools’ academic policies and procedures.”

Andrea Polanco

“Will the MOE play any sort of mediator role if there are issues arising out of these concerns coming from principals?”

Dr. Carol Babb

“We have met with the management authorities and we have appealed to them to just be compassionate; be understanding at this time. This is a difficult time. An unprecedented time that no one in this lifetime has experienced so we are asking them to be mindful of that.”