Achievements

ENHANCING LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE

• Completed “Health Check” of education system – June 2010
• Launched New Education Stabilisation Plan – January 2011, informed by “Health Check” report with views from educators
• Published first progress report on Education Stabilisation Plan – January 2011
• Developed new governance model for the education system, restructuring DES and the Ministry (no new roles or additional costs), for more effective leadership – June 2010
• Established New Education Policy and Planning Unit in the Ministry to advise on education policy and strategy – September 2011
• Created new Senior School Improvement Officer roles within DES, providing challenge and support for schools – September 2011
• Established Data Unit within DES to track student performance and attendance – Fall 2010
• Formed the New Principals’ Consultative Council to give principals a voice in decision-making – Fall 2010
• Launched national campaigns:
  • “Valuing Educators” – April 2011 (including Teachers’ Appreciation events)
  • “Valuing Education” – April 2011 (encouraging national appreciation for education)
• Established National Professional Standards for Teachers – December 2011
• Enhanced performance management process for education, linking incentives to student success – September 2012
• Developed national education policies in priority areas (2010/11):
  • School Discipline and Student Behaviour
  • Teaching and Learning
  • Curriculum
  • Misuse of Drugs
  • Special Educational Needs Code of Practice
  • Early Admissions
  • ICT Integration Policy and Strategy
  • ICT Acceptable Use (for students and teachers)
• Introduced first Food Health Standards for Canteens in Government schools – September 2010
• Established various Taskforces/Committees to develop solutions:
  • Scholarship Review Committee – 2010
  • Early Years Taskforce – Aug 2010 to June 2011
  • Principals’ Consultative Committee – September 2011
  • At-Risk Strategic Planning Team – May to June 2010
  • Business Studies Advisory Committee – 2011
  • Literacy Advisory Committee – 2011
  • Teacher Performance Management Review Taskforce – June to Oct 2011
  • Graduation Requirements Committee – April to May 2011
  • Data Advisory Committee – December 2011
  • Education Law Revision Task Force – September 2012
  • National Standards for Principals Advisory Group – September 2012
• Conducted first stakeholder reviews on education in Cayman Brac & Little Cayman, with surveys and meetings – June 2011, follow-up in April 2012
• Developed National Professional Standards for teachers to guide recruitment, performance management, and professional development – 2011
• Implemented enhanced graduation criteria for government high schools – September 2011:
  • Level 1 Diploma: At least 5 passes at Level 1, including English and Math
  • Level 2 Diploma: At least 5 passes at Level 2 (CXC, GCSE, IGCSE, AS, or AP), including English and Math
  • Level 2 Diploma with Honours: At least 7 passes at Level 2, including English and Math
• Implemented a revised teacher recruitment policy and process – February 2011
• Conducted a consultancy review of the Education Standards and Assessment Unit (ESAU) – June 2012
• Launched the National Strategic Plan for Education (2012-17) – February 2013

ENHANCING SKILLS FOR WORK READINESS

• Launched the highly successful Passport2Success programme to tackle barriers to unemployment for young people aged 17-20 (Fall 2010). The programme has achieved an 89% completion rate, with 59% of participants currently employed, 18% attending school, and 24 persons enrolled in Cohort 5.
• Implemented the first phase of a National Qualifications Framework and a National Qualification Record (2011) to create a common understanding among schools and employers of the value and equivalencies of various vocational and academic qualifications, facilitating progress and mobility in education and employment.
• Introduced extended and targeted work placements for CIFEC, spanning the entire academic year (2010/11), providing hands-on application of classroom learning, work readiness skills, and literacy and numeracy support.
• Launched the Deloitte Employability Studies Programme (September 2012), a Level 2 programme that teaches students the skills, attitudes, and behaviours needed to secure and sustain employment.
• Established a new 3-person Careers Advisory Unit at CIFEC, fully staffed by September 2011.
• Expanded the CIFEC induction programme (September 2012) to incorporate Passport2Success guiding principles before work placements.
• Restructured the Scholarship Secretariat with additional resources (2010/11) to improve efficiency and expand services for scholarship recipients.
• Enhanced the national scholarship programme, providing access to tertiary education for 371 students overseas and 506 students locally in 2011/12.
• Launched the Harry Chisholm Scholarship for Banking and Finance in partnership with the Royal Bank of Canada (May 2011).
• Introduced the Gwen Bush Memorial Scholarship for Boatbuilding and other Maritime Careers in partnership with the Cayman Islands Seafarers Association and the Cayman Maritime Heritage Foundation (February 2011).

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS (UCCI)

1. Appointed a new President and Board for UCCI who worked with the Ministry to recover the dignity and integrity of the institution (2009/10).
2. Enhanced the physical security of the campus and introduced CCTV monitoring (2009/10).
3. Ensured essential maintenance and improvements to the physical plant (2009/10).
4. Improved student registration systems and procedures (2009/10, 2010/11).
5. Achieved significant improvements by Management and Board in relation to financial controls (2009/10).
6. Strengthened the development of Music and the Performing Arts:
• Introduced new Caribbean Dance and Culture course (Fall 2010).
• Launched highly acclaimed UCCI Choir, Dance Troupe, and Steel Pan (2009/10-2010/11).
7. Strengthened Character Development with “Men of Standard”/”Women of Character” programmes (2009/10, 2010/11).
8. Launched a range of new programmes:
• First professional MBA (Sept 2010).
• Partnered with the Agriculture Department to provide Agricultural Workshops, leading to a Certificate in Agricultural Studies (March 2011).
• Twenty-four RCIPs officers graduated from a new bespoke programme (October 2010).
• Introduced the first Pre-College Programme (Fall 2010).
• Dual Enrolment Programme for Year 12 students (September 2011).
• Engineering Technology, Associates (2011/12).
• Nursing, BSc launched (April 2013).
• Signed an MOU with Ritz Carlton to provide Hospitality Programme students with quality work experience.
• Implemented a New Language Lab (Fall 2010).
• Selected by the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment to be its Accredited Training Provider in the Cayman Islands (2010/11).
• Selected by the Association of Caribbean Tertiary Institutions (ACTI) to pilot the Associate Degree in Information Communications Technology (2010/11).
• Hosted UCCI Annual International Conference (2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12).
• Opened the new William H. Hrudey Observatory (2012).