Tourism Taskforce on Education

The recent National Tourism Conference focused attention on a number of critical human and physical infrastructural challenges facing The Bahamas. As an outgrowth of the session on Education, the Bahamas Hotel Association and the Ministry of Tourism has established two working groups; the first, called the Tourism Task Force on Education, which is engaged with the Ministry of Education to initiate a comprehensive review of the education curriculum to ensure it is relevant to the needs of the industry; and the second, which is working with the College of The Bahamas Research Unit to undertake a Hospitality Industry Human Resources Needs Assessment. Both of these exercises are related, in that the needs of the industry, measured against the gaps in the existing labour pool, should provide direction into the content and type of curricula offered at all levels of the education and training continuum. The conduct of these two undertakings requires professional expertise and coordination assistance, as well as logistical and other project expenses, beyond that which can be reasonably provided by educators, industry volunteers and existing personnel within the Ministry of Tourism and the Bahamas Hotel Association. Plans for both undertakings are well underway, with the curriculum review process commencing with workshops for educators and industry during the last week in April and first week in May. ^return to top

Curriculum Guides

According to the Ministry of Education, the instructional programmes in all government schools are based on the National Curriculum guidelines for each subject. These guidelines have been developed by the Curriculum Officers in collaboration with teachers and members of the community. The Curriculum focuses on development of intelligence, attitudes, knowledge and values of the student, articulating what they are expected to know and to be able to do in their school lives and is based on the expectation that all students can achieve the learning goals at all levels. Each curriculum promotes opportunities for teachers to respond to students? intelligences learning styles and preferences. The curriculum includes recommended teaching and learning resources and activities and suggested assessment practices. Developing the curriculum for the thirty-three (33) subjects being offered in our schools is the responsibility of officers in the Humanities, Technical/Vocational, and the Science and Technology Sections. The humanities subjects are: Language Arts, Visual Arts, Spanish, French, Social Studies, Religious Studies, Health & Family Life, Performing Arts, History, Geography and Civics. Subjects in Technical/Vocation are Commerce, Accounts, Typewriting, Technical Drawing, Carpentry, Electrical Installation, Auto Mechanics, Plumbing, Welding, Masonry, Home Economics, Hospitality & Training, Cosmetology, Computer Studies, Office Procedures, Economics, Electronics, Small Engine Repair and Cluster/Modular Program. Mathematics, the Sciences, Agriculture, and Physical Education. ^return to top

Testing & Evaluation

Parents and Students need to know the scoring process, how it works, and how to optimize the scores, where to get BJC and BGCSE Results and how many subjects are minimum requirements for higher education. ^return to top

Edu Corner

This is a posting of position papers, speeches and briefs from various events, with a sub-section for CARIBEAT, a regional look at what other Caribbean countries are doing. ^return to top

Tech Corner

Educators need to understand how technology is changing the tourism industry and its operations, in order to effectively advise students. ^return to top