Cayman students under-performing against targets, new report reveals
A new report into school education has revealed there is still a worrying amount of under-performance among students in the Cayman Islands.
The 'School Education report, issued by the Office of the Auditor General (OAG), found that despite overall improvements, students at both primary and secondary schools are under-performing against the expected levels - and that there is a significant gender gap.
The OAG report reviewed how efficiently and effectively the Ministry of Education is using its resources to maximise student achievement, and looked specifically at whether the Government has a clear strategic direction for improving performance of the education system.
The Auditor General, Sue Winspear revealed: “Despite education being a priority area and one of the Government’s strategic broad outcomes, there is no overarching strategic plan that sets out the goals, objectives and outcomes that are expected to be achieved.
“We found that there was limited understanding between the use of resources and performance.
"It is important that good success measures and outcomes are set for education to ensure that success can be measured and money is being spent on things that will make a difference.”
While the report highlights that student performance has improved in recent years, it found there are significant areas of under-performance.
Ms Winspear added: “It is encouraging to see that overall student performance is improving. But it is worrying that there continues to be significant levels of under-performance. Students at both primary and secondary schools are under-performing against the expected levels and there is a significant gender gap.
"Both of these issues need to be addressed if the Government’s strategic broad outcome for education is to be achieved."
The report also highlights that the Government has increased its investment in students with special educational needs over the past five years, but concluded it's not clear if this is improving outcomes.
The AG said: “We found that despite investment in special educational needs increasing significantly, it is not clear if it is improving outcomes for students with special educational needs.
“There has been a significant increase in the number of specialist staff, but the performance of students with special educational needs continues to be mixed.”
The OAG report reviewed how efficiently and effectively the Ministry of Education is using its resources to maximise student achievement, and looked specifically at whether the Government has a clear strategic direction for improving performance of the education system.
The Auditor General, Sue Winspear revealed: “Despite education being a priority area and one of the Government’s strategic broad outcomes, there is no overarching strategic plan that sets out the goals, objectives and outcomes that are expected to be achieved.
“We found that there was limited understanding between the use of resources and performance.
"It is important that good success measures and outcomes are set for education to ensure that success can be measured and money is being spent on things that will make a difference.”
While the report highlights that student performance has improved in recent years, it found there are significant areas of under-performance.
Ms Winspear added: “It is encouraging to see that overall student performance is improving. But it is worrying that there continues to be significant levels of under-performance. Students at both primary and secondary schools are under-performing against the expected levels and there is a significant gender gap.
"Both of these issues need to be addressed if the Government’s strategic broad outcome for education is to be achieved."
The report also highlights that the Government has increased its investment in students with special educational needs over the past five years, but concluded it's not clear if this is improving outcomes.
The AG said: “We found that despite investment in special educational needs increasing significantly, it is not clear if it is improving outcomes for students with special educational needs.
“There has been a significant increase in the number of specialist staff, but the performance of students with special educational needs continues to be mixed.”
