By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

EDUCATION Minister Jerome Fitzgerald yesterday criticised FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis’ “careless and reckless” statements about the government’s educational investments, claiming that Dr Minnis is “ignorant to the facts of the progress made in education”.

In a statement, Mr Fitzgerald accused the opposition leader of using education as a “political football,” saying that the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology’s accomplishments have “been recognised and celebrated locally by members of his own party, regionally and in the global education arena”.

Mr Fitzgerald said Dr Minnis is “misinformed” about the government’s progress in education, and as such has created a “public perception of education that is far from the truth”.

Mr Fitzgerald also said Dr Minnis’ statements earlier this week were a by-product of political “silly season”, and cautioned him not to adopt the “persona of the season and portray himself in such a silly manner”. The Marathon MP also cautioned Dr Minnis to consult former Education Minister Carl Bethel and shadow Education Minister Hubert Chipman - both of whom sit on the bipartisan National Education Political Committee - before “he makes any statement regarding education”.

On Tuesday, Dr Minnis criticised the government for its “failed” investments in education, further slamming the Christie administration for failing to build “one single high school” during its two nonconsecutive terms in office.

Dr Minnis also questioned the government’s adding of $1.6bn to the Bahamas’ national debt over the past three years, as well as the dramatic increase in the Office of the Prime Minister’s contingency provision from $29,000 the previous fiscal year to $2m, all while “we still do not have a much needed new high school.”

Dr Minnis also lamented the current modus operandi of the public school system, charging that it graduates “far too many students with a D grade average”.

“It is clear to me now as it was on Friday, June 17, when the leader of the opposition stood in the House of Assembly to make these same assertions that he is ignorant to the facts of the progress made in education,” Mr Fitzgerald said in response. “It is rather irresponsible of Dr Minnis to create a public perception of education that is far from the truth.

“We have worked extremely hard in education; including two members of his party, to allow Dr Minnis to diminish what we have accomplished. He is misinformed and I suggest that before he makes any statement regarding education, he consult with former Minister of Education Carl Bethel and/or Hubert Chipman, shadow minister of education, who both sit on the Bipartisan National Education Political Committee.”

Mr Fitzgerald also countered Dr Minnis’ criticisms of the Christie administration not building one high school in its two terms in office, saying that the idea of building more schools is “futile” without the necessary foundation which is “not a physical structure but data-driven decisions and programmes based on research”.

Mr Fitzgerald also denied that The Bahamas has a challenge of overcrowding in its public schools.

“As we enter the ‘silly season’ where politics seem to overrule logic, common sense and intelligent dialogue, I encourage Dr Minnis not to take on the persona of the season and portray himself in such a silly manner,” Mr Fitzgerald added. “I would appreciate that Dr Minnis refrain from using education as a political football after all the work that we have done that has been recognised and celebrated locally by members of his own party, regionally and in the global education arena.

“As we focus on student achievement and ensuring that our students are provided with continued opportunities for academic, athletic and social success, I will not be distracted by Dr Minnis,” Mr Fitzgerald added. “We are data-driven and goal focused and we will continue to work assiduously to ensure that we meet our widely important goal; which is to increase the rate of graduation from 50 per cent to 85 per cent by 2030 as outlined in A Shared Vision for Education 2030.”