Dear Friends, today I hosted a press conference to discuss Ministry of Education business. I received a question about why public officials have placed their children in private schools and said that while I cannot speak for public officials, I reminded of the provisions in law that allow for private schools and for parents to make choices. i answered as far as it related to me as a public official. The truth is, my friends, I am not sure that the minor children of public officials should be subjects of scrutiny. I answered the question, as far as it related to me, because I am also not sure that this was a wholly unfair question, given that I am the education minister. My answer is simple. My daughter was not of age to enter the public school system but we thought she was ready for school. She was born in April and the policy was, at that time, to allow only children who had been born by March 31st to enter public school in the year they turned three. Private schools, however, were accepting children born later. One accepted her. If we were to take her out of that school now and place her in the public school system because she is now of age she would have to be demoted to a class below that which she is presently in and repeat the work that she has done and/or mastered. That would not at all be in her best interest. Pursuant to numerous requests from parents, consultations with heads and teachers of nursery schools and noting the results of the children who were accepted into the private schools we have changed that policy and now allow for children who are born by June 30th of the year they turn three to enter a public nursery school. Because of this change we have 2908 (out of a total of 13,882) children enrolling this year who would not have been eligible last year and the years preceding. My daughter didnt benefit from this change but 2908 other children have and thousands more will in the coming years and that makes me very happy.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 18:55:13 +0000