United kingdom overseas territories and crown dependencies summary reports
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- Bermuda Technology Initiative Collaborative (B-TEC)
- Bermuda College
- The Bermuda Careers Centre
- Further education policies
Disabled childrenThe Bermuda Government aims to improve the quality of life and inclusivity for all of its physically challenged citizens. An early evaluation of the needs of this sector suggested that a “single point of entry” vehicle to the helping services was a priority. To this end, the National Office for the Seniors and the Physically Challenged (NOSPC) was established. The Summary Report: Bermuda function of the (NOSPC) is to ensure that the Government Services are readily available and accessible to this vulnerable sector of our community. Health and health services The Government continues to recognize and endeavours to ensure the right of the child to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health. The Ministry of Health and Family Services strives to improve access to high quality facilities for treatment and rehabilitation. Infant Mortality Rates in Bermuda remain low, with 11 cases reported in 2005. The main cause of death is attributed to perinatal conditions. The Department of Health within the Ministry of Health and Family Services seeks to provide the most effective way to prevent transmission of HIV/AIDS infection and to help people who are infected to identify the support, strengths and resources they need to live with the diagnosis. A task force under the direction of the Chief Medical Officer is responsible for the development and implementation of strategic planning for HIV/AIDS prevention, control and management in Bermuda. Education programmes are provided in all schools for teachers and students. The right of both child and family to confidentiality is recognized and protocols are in place for prevention of infection – ‘Universal Precautions’ for blood spills, and injuries to students. Immunisation Bermuda’s immunization programme administers vaccines for childhood illnesses and other communicable diseases through the Government clinics and school system. In 2005 Bermuda recorded a 90% level of immunisation coverage of children based on the data available, including both private sector and Government administered immunisations. Social security and child care services and facilities The Children Act 1998 authorizes the Minister of Social Rehabilitation to set regulations guiding child care in Bermuda. The Bermuda Government provides an array of programmes and services aimed at ensuring the provision of quality child care for children in Bermuda under five years of age. The Happy Valley Day Care Centre remains as the only Government child care facility. The facility caters to approximately forty children. Proposals are currently in place to establish additional Government day care centres. In addition to its other services, Happy Valley Day Care Centre has in place a programme that is designed to engage parents’ participation in their children’s education. Parenting classes and peer support programme are now also a part of the services offered at the Happy Valley Day Care Centre. The Child Development Programme The Department of Financial Assistance offers assistance that supports children and their families. The Department provides financial awards to Summary Report: Bermuda adults on behalf of children in the areas of rent subsidies; food allowance; transportation, clothing and medical needs. The Department also provides for the cost of nursery and day care services when indicated. The Department of Financial Assistance continues to support individuals and their families. This is facilitated by the Financial Assistance Act 2001. In addition to this Act, the Financial Assistance Regulations 2004 and the Financial Assistance Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2004 have been established. The introduction of the Regulations now provides for: A universal criteria for eligibility for assistance A more timely determination of assistance and easier access to service Simplified application and assessment procedure A single case management system and More equitable caseload for workers A person must be eighteen years of age or older and be the head of the household in order to apply for Financial Assistance. Children under eighteen and found to be in need would be referred to the Department of Child and Family Services for assistance. CHAPTER VII: EDUCATION, LEISURE AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES Education, including vocational training and guidance Thirty six persons (teachers, Education Officers, Ministry staff, the Bermuda Union of Teachers, The Association of School Principals, The Board of Education, The Board of Governors of CedarBridge Academy, the business community and 2 senior school students) met in August 2002 to devise a National Strategic Vision for Education. The group established that the critical issue was to improve student achievement and establish the Government Schools as the first choice for education. The Ministry of Education and Development created a National Strategic approach to teaching Literacy at the primary school level. This initiative was developed with specific targets that were linked to planning, monitoring and evaluation, and therefore setting clear bench-marked expectations. One of the programming highlights was the incorporation of a designated period of 90 minutes each day, to be known as ‘Literacy Time’. The Ministry employed a Literacy Strategy Manager and Literacy Coordinators for two years to train teachers and administrators in best practices. This initiative continued at the school sites after its initial 2-year pilot under Ministry leadership. Summary Report: Bermuda Bermuda Technology Initiative Collaborative (B-TEC)Since its inception two years in 2003, B-TEC’s aim is to open the gateway to a world of information and communications for Bermuda's public school students, their teachers, parents and the community. B-TEC aims to incorporate a full technology plan which exposes students to world class education in technology, have adequate resourcing of all levels of the system, expand teacher technology skills and increase opportunities for students. The curriculum is developed in collaboration with Stanford University and the University of Virginia. The certification available through the B-TEC programme is the ISTE- International Society for Technology Education. An initial investment in the programme as of 2004 was approximately $9.45 million, spent on site licenses, new science labs, LCD projectors, video conferencing equipment, digital microscopes curriculum development, training and in-service consultation Education reform – Catch the Vision In September 2006, the Education Ministry held a mass meeting of everyone involved in education to “Catch the Vision“ of an improved public education system. The one-day summit, aimed at galvanizing all those working in Bermuda’s public education system to engage in constructing a first class public education. The conference is part of a three-year strategy being put together by the Ministry. Catch the Vision will be followed by Share the Vision in 2007 and Live the Vision in 2008. Among the topics to be examined are: restoring confidence in public education, respecting diversity, intentional expectations for the Ministry of Education, relationship building and effective communication. Aims of education The Educators’ Council Act 2002 was introduced to provide for the licensing of principals, teachers and paraprofessionals through the establishment of an independent Council, which will create and maintain a register of licensed teachers. The National Training Board Amendment Act 2002 provides for a revised administrative structure, which will allow the National Training Board (NTB) to increase its compliment of staff and senior officers, thus better equipping it to respond to the needs of Bermudians. To respond to the Government’s Social Agenda Policy, the NTB has identified several new initiatives. Eleven new programmes have been created; including a Summer Youth Development Project. Collaboration between the NTB and the Department of Court Services has resulted in a programme entitled “Just in Time”. Launched April 2005, the purpose of the programmes is to offer alternative programmes to offenders to promote self-sufficiency, skill-building and employability. Participants will Summary Report: Bermuda participate in the General Education Diploma (GED) and other technical vocational training. The NTB has achieved significant growth in all categories of training. The enrolment in apprenticeship programmes average one hundred apprentices yearly and as a result the NTB has developed two national training facilities and a third facility at the Bermuda College is pending. Bermuda CollegeSince the report of 2000, the Bermuda College has formed closer links with main feeder public secondary schools participating in appropriate school based committees and events i.e. Coordination of curriculum materials in mathematics and English Language, Arts and Senior School Mathematics Teachers professional development. This institution has increased the number of articulation agreements with overseas, four year universities to enable Bermuda College graduates more options to transfer their Associate Degree credits to highly ranked North American, Caribbean and UK Institutions. The College has now developed meaningful, relevant and appropriate, skills training programmes in Technology in collaboration with the National Training Board. The College has also strengthened its services to the student by implementing mandatory, and advisory tutoring by individual faculty members. It has begun an initiative that focuses on stakeholder needs by the use business and industry Surveys. Moreover it has developed an internal resource centre which provides support for professional development of its teaching staff. The Bermuda Careers CentreThe Bermuda Careers Centre (BCC) provides current career and education related information to students, parents, counsellors, and jobseekers that will enable them to determine potential career paths, to explore career and educational goals and to take full advantage of employment opportunities. The centre’s aim is to ensure that all employment sectors in the community have a pool of well-educated and trained young Bermudians to employ. Services provided by the BCC include career development and planning, interview coaching and employment placement. Further education policiesThe Ministry’s further education policies continue to grow as a wide range of programmes and funding continue to be offered to Bermuda’s youth in an effort to help prepare them to become productive and contributing citizens. For academic year 2006 Awards for further education have increased from $5,000 each to $7,000 annually. Also funding for tertiary level education has been increased in value from $12,500 each to $25,000.00. Summary Report: Bermuda Directory: english -> bodies -> crc -> docs -> AdvanceVersions docs -> Consideration of reports submitted by states parties bodies -> United Nations E/C. 12/Prt/4 bodies -> United Nations cerd/C/mex/16-17 bodies -> Advance unedited version bodies -> - bodies -> List of issues prepared by the committee to be considered during the examination of the second periodic report of Qatar (cat/C/qat/2) bodies -> Advanced unedited version AdvanceVersions -> Committee on the rights of the child Download 390.01 Kb. Share with your friends:
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