The man at the head of the ministry of education has issued a firm warning to school principals who incur additional expenses on parents by including more text books for students, which in some cases are not even used.
Education Minister Petter Saint Jean made the warning at the first national principal’s meeting on Friday morning which took place at the Garraway Hotel.
“Let me just sound one word of caution to the principals who consistently deviate from what is set by the ministry of education,” he stated. “We have a standard curriculum book list and over time many individuals have deviated from that and have placed families under unnecessary financial pressures.”
He said there must be strict adherence to the rules on that matter.
“There must be strict adherence to the rules set down by the ministry of education,” he pointed out, adding that while in some cases it is understandable that a supplementary school material may be sourced, the issue has reached a boiling point.
“Right now I believe we are going over and beyond what the ministry of education can bear at serious costs to families and very often those supplementary books are never used by the students,” he said. “Please guard against such practices because I have requested of the chief that we take close attention to this issue.”
He noted further that class supervision is crucial, and urged principals to remain accessible to parents, since the success at their schools is heavily dependent on the kind of relationship is developed with those parents.
Meantime Saint Jean wants Early Childhood educators to remain within regulations set by the ministry.
“I want to sound a note of caution here,” he stated, “We expect strict adherence to the regulations governing the operations of early childhood education in Dominica.
In fact it has been brought to my attention that some early childhood facilities, even those located at our primary schools continue to increase the cost of early childhood education in Dominica.”
According to the education minister, the state provides subvention from $1,500 to $2,500 to every early childhood facility that meets the requirements whether they are owned by the state or private to keep the cost down for families.
He said that he takes very seriously when he is told that in a matter of one year, some early childhood schools have increased the fees by 75 and in some cases 100 percent.
“That cannot and will not be tolerated by the ministry of education and the government of Dominica, so those who have ears to hear, let them hear,” Saint Jean stated.
He also mentioned that there is an increase in subvention to the Dominica State College (DSC) in the sum of EC$ 1.2-million to meet operational costs.
The new school year officially began in Dominica on Monday.
Ministers of Government are always Politicians first, it is what keeps them in office,such a statement by The Minister is inappropriate and draconian, it also demonstrates politicking on his behalf at the expense of The Principals. I’m sure there are more effective ways of communicating The Government policy with The Principals.
It is low.
But Dominica is in a free fall with them man.
Stop buying books!
Peter boy you smoking too much weed.
Stop running you all mouth. I agree with Mr Peter. Follow the curriculum of the ministry of education. Less expense for parent. Principals and teachers must be guided by those who hired them to do the job. If educators cannot follow rules them they need to be retrained on that matter. It is not about what you think is best for your school. It is what the governing body agreed on.
The schools in Dominica are over doing it I remember when school fee was 15$ now its 150$ and that’s for a primary school the children need 12 excersize books and my high school kids only need 8 so some principles really over do it
The big problem is the amount that is being charged for many textbooks. They rent them and sell them at big profits and they aren’t worth what they are charging to begin with. It is a racket. Always promoting the newest version to make more money. the same books that are 5-10 yrs. old don’t have a lot of new information, but they cost a lot less.. The publisher, the authors, the teachers or school officials that promote them, they all usually get a cut. I don’t if that is going on in DA, but they do in the States. That is another reason education costs have escalated and the kids don’t get any smarter with a higher costing book.
I have never heard that principalgo over the head, the authority of the Ministry and Education Officer and purchase books and charge the parents for them. Do they not consult the Ministry prior to purchasing those books?
I suppose in this era they do things differently in D/ca. The books for these schools throughout the island should be identical. No more, no less.
on this matter i think that the minister is right & their is a certain principal whom i know she behaves as if she is a defacto minister of education.
Mr peter st jaen u guys have fail dominica and i will tell u why school been on vacation for two months dis u guys repair any schools on island if u did which one ? Yout government did not see it fit to have a meeting with the stake holders to have meeting a week befote the commence ment of scholl sir to inform the parents as to the conditions school that our childten will be sitting in
Sir i wish u would change your last name.It hurts to have a St jean as part of that corrupt govt.
You should be sued for using that word. You should be asked to prove it. In any case, your comment is uncalled for and is out of place.
Ok Commander General, yes Sir got it. This guy just cannot speak to people, professionals, teachers with respect and dignity.
You happen to be in the 20% good bracket. Keep up your dignity and do not sell your soul.
Always finding fault. What do you mean? I think what he stated is appropriate that they get the message and act accordingly.
you really do not deserve to be at the head of the education ministry.
Thought is the Govt that’s getting the booklist instead of the Principal what a shame , this to go failure.
Well, I know one school that has a whole other book list, a “supplementary” book list. It may be more expensive, but the the Ministry cannot deny that that school has the most ones at CSEC every year.
I will buy the extra books, tan! They seem to be keeping that school very much at the top!
I doubt that it is the books that are doing it. The families of the students make the students more serious about their education and credit has to be given to the teachers also..
you can afford it so say thank God. Think of the poor family who already struggles to pay school fee and have to buy two sets of books. the list needs to be streamlined. maybe the gov’t needs to just put on those supplementary books that are being requested and remove those the have.
St.Jean as with all the other members of the ruling DLP are bankrupt of ideas to save this country. They continue to insult the intelligence of the people of Dominica.
An entire budget was presented to the nation with no plans of sustainable economic development. With a pending election the main highlight of the DLP has been, tax relief on pampers, $200.00 monthly for senior citizens 70 years plus, (note that persons who are presently 70 years old, were 56 years when this administration came into office.), massages for the elderly. St Jean is now paying lip service to unnecessary financial pressure on parents. Mr. St. Jean, if the principals that you hire/promote do not have the authority to tweek a curiculum and make it adaptable to their diverse student population, we are in a sad state of affairs in the country. This is but one of the reasons for our declining brain drain.
Declining brain drain… I think you are confused about the meaning of braindrain sir….
Oh please…… for 1; sometimes the books that the ‘ministry’ chooses does not have all what the curriculum states and therefore additional text have to be sought… and 2; the ‘ministry’ is the one changing the books so often
Mr. Minister you are the joker in a packet of cards. You mean to tell me that principals have been “consistently” deviating “over time” from the book list provided by your Ministry and now you talking? Now you realise that this has been putting a strain on famalies?
Eh beh is either I am a fool or you’re a liar!!
Call de dam election for all u sons of agone to be voted out of office enough is enough. Wicked wicked wicked
De little malaway money your government giving to our pre schools we have to see so much misery before we get it change is possible, change is a must and change is coming I am calling on all pre school educators lets vote this wicked government OUT of office my staffs and I for sure not voting them in this time
Is the government in any way sub venting the institutions of early childhood education? Granted they should not push such steep increases on already heavily burdened parents at one go but i know that preschool teachers particularly in rural communities take home a pittance because the fees are so negligible. if MoE making a contribution then they most certainly can clamp down on schools for increasing fees but if not….. the teachers need to survive and the needs of the schools have to be met. Look i just read that Dominica has the lowest minimum wage …. the preschool teachers in the rural communities don’t even get minimum wage…
Uninformed comment. The minimum wage is $4.50. That is for jobs such as store attendants and waitresses…. $4.50 per hour adds up to 720 per month for a 40 hour week. Now question. Are the preschool teachers getting less than that? If the answer is yes, you have a point. If the answer is no then you just wasted a few minutes writing a bunch of crap you know nothing about….
Petter St. Jean I doh even worry with you. Elections soon come.
Because all those lousy books Ministry of Education put on the book list not worth one fat!
The Government of Dominica buying all coshonie text books without even getting the teachers themselves to review it before purchasing from the author; and the good books they don’t want to use them.
And in any case it’s usually the parents who don’t give a s&*^%t about their children’s education that complaining about buying extra books. If you find to buy one or two books to assist your children in gaining a sound education, then God help you.
Look strict rules soinds mor like threats to the educators,othewise your job is gone,pur communism.lord whe will the foolish people of dominica wake up from this socialist for of government.
What you are relaying is that regulations should not be put in place and they should be allowed to continue their practice? They have cost the Ministry and parents extra funds. Should they not be so informed?
Couple questions:
Is the ministry consulting with the principals as to which text books are helpful for the curriculum? Maybe schools should set up their own little library and use these extra books for reference. In that case they will need less.
Is there something wrong with giving kids additional resources even if it was not specified by MOE? Some parents may be willing to pay extra to allow the kids to have additional resources.
Are the principles not allowed to use different technology or resources unless approved by MOE? Is that some form of control over schools and information delivered to the kids?
Is the ministry trying to stop the practice because it has proven not to help and grades have shown to be worst since they started this practice?
If the warning is so strict it must be that what the teachers/principals did has made the kids at a learning disadvantage. If not then the education minister has other motives than concerns about expenses.
The Ministry has its Education Officer. Why should they consult the principals? The Ministry and E.O. are their boss. They must adhere to rules and regulations.