NASSAU, Bahamas – Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin said the redevelopment and improvement of schools are ongoing throughout the nation.

“I am particularly gratified that repair and redevelopment work is virtually completed at Harbour Island Comprehensive School,” the Education Minister said during a televised Back-to-School National Address on Sunday, September 1, 2024.

She said starting this year, students will attend for the first time new schools in Staniel Cay Comprehensive in Exuma and McClean’s Town Primary in East Grand Bahama.

“Students in Ragged Island will resume face to face instruction for the first time in several years post Hurricane Irma; and the new school is nearing completion.”

The Minister explained that plans are well underway for the new school and hurricane shelter in East Grand Bahama in collaboration with the Caribbean Development Bank.

“I am confident that the Holmes Rock School in Grand Bahama is in the final stage of completion and the Lowe Sound School is estimated to be completed by the end of this academic year.”

She said works are soon to begin on the redevelopment of the Emma Cooper Primary School in Eleuthera, with the new schools in Inagua, Cat Island and Exuma still on the agenda.

School Safety:

The Education Minister said as it relates to school safety, it is clear that learning can only be accomplished if done in a safe and peaceful environment.

She said school Resource Officers (SROs) have been deployed in all public junior and senior high schools across the nation.

“These SROs are members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force specially trained and internationally certified by instructors from the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO).

“This training has equipped officers to develop successful relationships with diverse students and support students with behavioural challenges.”

The Minister said, as a result, school safety indicators have shown that school safety has been improved and schools are becoming safer.

She said, “Statistics from the Royal Bahamas Police Force for the Spring 2024 term indicates a 17 per cent reduction in school incidents. But while school violence is declining, there is still lots of work to do. This year we will begin to deploy SROs to primary schools as early positive youth intervention is critical to success.”