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UPDATE: Education CEO apologises for “misunderstood” circular
The article published by this news site was captioned, “Permission needed to make donations to public schools” and sub-captioned “Circular from Chief Education Officer (Ag) detailed that any individual, groups or agency must get written permission to make any form of donation or visitation to Public Primary and Secondary Schools”.
While efforts by this news site to garner an official response/explanation/clarification of the circular were futile yesterday January 10, 2014, a Government Information Service (GIS) press release followed last evening and among other things, included an apology from Mrs. Douglas-Phillip.
“She (Chief Education Officer Mrs. Jillian M. Douglas-Phillip (Ag)) publicly apologises for any misunderstanding that may have occurred, and reiterated that the circular only served as a reminder,” the press release stated.
Many persons had questioned the integrity and motive of the circular that was issued to public primary and secondary schools, but were also concerned if it had any political motives as Hon. Fahie was all over the local news making donations and facilitating extracurricular activities at the Leonora Delville Primary School on January 6, 2014. The curricular was dated January 7, 2014.
Even a source within the Ministry of Education and Culture, on condition of anonymity, alleged to this news site that “no one has to ask where this new found enforcement came from…while this has been the policy for years and some aspects of the Education Act covers this, it has never been enforced it’s just the usual childish politics of the past two years.”
Hon Fahie in an exclusive interview had said, “I hope whoever directed the Chief Education Officer to remind the Principals with the circular, I hope that their intentions are pure.”
“Any reference to any person or business is purely coincidental and for that we apologise,” Mrs. Douglas-Phillip said.
Last evening’s release further stated that the Chief Education Officer (Ag) was pleased with the response received from the public regarding information shared on the protocol for events, donations and visitations to public schools by private individuals and businesses.
According to Mrs. Douglas-Phillip as quoted in the release, following the public sharing of the document, the department has since received written correspondences from businesses seeking permission to hold activities within schools. The department has also entertained a number of calls from the public seeking clarification and additional information on the procedures moving forward.
Mrs. Douglas-Phillip was said to have applauded the mutual respect for the long standing policy and welcomed all donations to public schools as the students benefit when the community works in unity with the Government to strengthen the education system.
She also claimed that it is standard at the start of each school term that the Department may issue reminders to its stakeholders on areas of significance.
The CEO claimed that in the past, a number of activities have been held at schools without the department’s knowledge and as a result, the Department found it necessary to issue the circular to curb the trend.
The release further states that the Department of Education sees the enforcement of rules and policies as necessary to ensure effective management of all entities is essential to good working relationships.
See previous story published on January 9, 2014:
Permission needed to make donations to Public Schools!
- Circular form Chief Education Officer (Ag) detailed that any individual, groups or agency must get written permission to make any form of donation or visitation to Public Primary and Secondary Schools
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - In the first circular of 2014 dated January 7 at the start of the spring school term for Public Primary and Secondary Schools from the Ag. Chief Education Officer Mrs. Jillian M. Douglas-Phillip, she warned principals of public schools to pay attention to procedure and policy.
The Circular stated that, “any individual, group or agency which is external to any public school, must contact the Department of Education via written correspondence…to inform, make request to and receive permission to conduct any formal visitation, make any form of donation or to conduct any events with and for the school.”
Is it political motivated?
A source within the Ministry of Education and Culture, speaking to our news room on condition of anonymity, alleged to this news site that “no one has to ask where this new found enforcement came from…while this has been the policy for years and some aspects of the Education Act covers this, it has never been enforced it’s just the usual childish politics of the past two years.”
What the policy enforcement means is that, if anyone or businesses want to make a donation of any kind to public schools, or give a motivational speech to students at any government run school, they must place the request in writing and wait for a response from the Department of Education via the school’s Principal.
It remains unclear what led to this policy being enforced and how it will affect or encourage community involvement in schools, giving of their time to visit and speak to students and making donations for much needed items, knowing the Education Department's bureaucracy.
Five principals, mostly from primary schools, called our news room to bring this matter to our attention, with one saying, “with all the real issues going on in my school, for example my poor working condition and lack of basic resources, I was shocked that this is the first Email from the Department of Education as I am not sure if there was ever any issue as people always come to us when any external person or group want to do something at my school… maybe someone trying to get at Hon. Fahie because he had a successful event recently at a school.”
The January 7, 2014 circular, which also Emailed to some senior Education Officers from Mrs. Douglas-Phillip said, “To those Principals who have continued to follow procedure, I say hearty thank-you and ask that you continue to do so.”
Former Minister Fahie Speaks
Popular former Education and Culture Minister Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) who, just recently on January 6, 2014, conducted a book donation to students and a motivational session at the Leonora Delville Primary School in Capoons Bay, told our news site that this has always being around but “it was never hard and fast as we need all hands on board to help our young people in a positive direction…the aim is to help.”
Hon. Fahie is expected to also do the same thing in reaching out to students and teachers on January 13, 2014 at the Isabella Morris Primary School in Carrot Bay on the western side of Tortola.
The First District Representative, who has the respect of the Virgin Islands youths and years of involvement, slams the new found enforcement to seek written permission to volunteer one's time and resources at public schools. Hon. Fahie told this news site that, “I hope whoever directed the Chief Education Officer to remind the Principals with the circular, I hope that their intentions are pure.”
The Opposition member, who has represented the First District since 1999, said he was surprised when our news site informed him of the circular and said, “It is amazing when the community is trying to do positive things someone can move swiftly to give directives…but there are more pressing issues to be addressed in our education system.”
Both the Acting Chief Education Officer Mrs. Jillian M. Douglas-Phillip and the controversial Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn could not be reached for comments up to publication time.
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64 Responses to “UPDATE: Education CEO apologises for “misunderstood” circular”
while this has been the policy for years and some aspects of the Education Act covers this, it has never been enforced it’s just the usual childish politics of the past two years.”
So following the Law is petty childish politics? WTH??????
To me he would do anything to irritate the Minister, like telling him this event was on one day and he held it the day before the actual date he give the Ministry.
Whether the actions taken, as directed of course, is legal, the timing of it is of poor taste & doesn't bold well for the Minister's image.
If any person or business wants to donate, all they have to do is seek and wait for permission. As long as they are doing so in all sincerity, why should adherence to the policies and procedures be bothersome?
How is it discouraging? I'm a business/individual wanting to donate $5k to ASPS. I write a letter confirming my intentions, I await confirmation from the Dept of Education and thereafter, I make my donation. How does that discourage you? Surely at minimum the Principals are notified of such intentions before hand so there's still a process. When the Principal/Teachers are approached they can simply advise the person/entity donating, of the process to do so. We like too much foolishness and backward behavior in BVI that's why we find it so hard to move forward. We cuss the Government and Politicians for doing things in a 'bush' manner but still curse louder when things are put in place to streamline the processes. When will we grow up and out of this petty politics.
so are we coming up with this to prevent andrew from giving out more books or is it that He wants to be in all the photos?
Undermine y my tail end. The schools need all kinda ting and the ministry ain got money to scratch them behind for nothing. Yah swear the man feeding the school poison. It was a district move. He who humbles himself shall be exalted and he who exalts himself shall be abased.
Now same Andrew was in HOA saying that we need to keep track of Political contributions. Now Government want to keep track of donations to Schools, which in principle may fall under the same umbrella (bribes etc.) now he has a problem? The Ministry is responsible for schools. Imagine if parent could donate freely without process that would be dangerous for an institution. The Department should be involved in monitoring as you don't want it to turn into people 'buying' grades with money/favors. It's a serious thing and anywhere else in the real world it would be the case. Can you go down to the Hospital right now with four wheel chairs and drop them off? NO! Can you back in a 20yd truck in BVIEC yd with 100 poles and just drop them off? NO! So what are people talking now? Andrew explain to us the difference between knowing who donates to campaigns vs those who donate to Schools. It all falls under the same thing, keeping track of what's going on to avoid corruption.
Enforce the laws MEC. This place is too slack and if you loose for doing the right thing, then this country will fail with leaders like Fahie.
Give me a dawn break. The most embarrassing, heartbroken, sad, disappointing Government was the VIP after Lavity passing. Hush from talking pi$$!!