Tag: Mark Ray
CIFEC students face split learning locations
(CNS): Cayman Islands Further Education Centre (CIFEC) students, who have no campus to attend as the new school year opens, will be attending classes at two different sites, education officials have said. From 16 September, practical classes will be held at the new John Gray High School from 2:00pm to 4:30pm daily, while theory sessions […]
CIFEC students ‘homeless’ as new term opens
(CNS): The Ministry of Education and Department of Education Services (DES) has revealed that students attending the Cayman Islands Further Education Centre (CIFEC) this year do not currently have anywhere to go to class “due to unexpected delays in completing the renovations to the former George Hicks site”. Officials have said CIFEC will “temporarily operate […]
Water levels now minimal after floods, say officials
(CNS): Preliminary assessments of standing water around Grand Cayman following significant rainfall since the weekend were conducted yesterday afternoon. It was found that most areas are now clear, with just “minimal pools of water” remaining in some areas of George Town and Bodden Town. According to a press release, Director of the Department of Education […]
Home-school numbers climb with lack of school spaces
(CNS): At the end of this academic year, 141 students were registered in home-school programmes, according to the Department of Education Services, but numerous social media posts suggest that one of the main reasons is that parents are struggling to find places for their children in local schools, both public and private. Over 100 of […]
Jamaica source of CSEC maths paper leak
(CNS): Investigations by officials at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) into a leaked maths exam paper have led them to an examination centre in Jamaica as the source. The paper was said to have been leaked all across the region ahead of the secondary school exam last week. Hosting a press conference on Zoom Friday, […]
School leaver exam results drop from peak
(CNS): A data report released by the education ministry reflects a decline in external exam results of Year 11 students at government schools over the last three years, with standards in mathematics dropping back to 2017 levels in 2022, despite the significant investment that has been made in public education. The report shows that at […]
Special ed expert promoted to DES deputy director
(CNS): Elroy Bryan, a 22-year veteran educator and special needs expert, has been appointed as the deputy director of the Department of Education Services (DES). Bryan has moved up from his role as Senior School Improvement Officer at the DES with responsibility for Special Education Needs and Disabilities, where he has been working closely with […]
Students get three more weeks to study for CXC exams
(CNS): The Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) has announced that the written portion of the 2022 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Examinations will begin on 23 May, three weeks after the previously scheduled start date of 2 May. The decision followed a special emergency meeting with regional governments to discuss the timing of the exams. The […]
Education officials battle COVID challenges
(CNS): The isolation requirements for families impacted by the outbreaks of COVID-19 across several schools continues to present challenges for the Department of Education Services. DES Director Mark Ray said masks, spaced desks and other social distancing measures such as staggered break times will continue after the extended mid-term break, as staff try to mitigate […]
GTPS student tests positive for COVID-19
(CNS) UPDATED: George Town Primary School is closed for lessons today (Tuesday) after a Year 6 student tested positive for COVID-19 late Monday evening. Government officials have said nothing about the health of the child, why he or she was tested and whether the child has any connection to the contact tracing for the first […]
Ray appointed new education department boss
(CNS): Mark Ray has been appointed as the new director of the Department of Education Services (DES) after what officials said was a rigorous recruitment process. He takes up the job after working for the last seven years as DES Head of Business Services but coming on the heels of a six-month secondment to the […]
