Revolutionise Education and Workforce Development

Building a Cayman where everyone has a fair chance to succeed starts with education.

Our public education system is failing our young people. We owe it to the next generation to better equip them with the skills they need to access the jobs of the future and build a secure and successful future. We will update and implement a new 10-year strategic education plan, which will include a phased approach to reintegrating our public schools.

TCCP believes the foundation for academic success is universal access to a world-class early childhood education system. As students progress through the school system, education should nurture the whole child fostering creativity, character and civic responsibility as well as academic attainment. For school leavers, there should be more non-traditional pathways to the workforce, as well as tertiary opportunities for Caymanians of all ages.

TCCP will revolutionise our education system and our workforce development by:

Early years

1. Ensuring every child, regardless of their background, has access to high quality and affordable early years education through an income-based fee system and pilot early years programmes in more communities
2. Lowering the age threshold eligibility from 3 years to 1 year and increase the funding for Early Childhood Assistance Programme (ECAP)
3. Investing in quality teaching and resources by developing a play-centered curriculum, ensuring appropriate teacher-child ratios and ensuring safe, stimulating environments
4. Increasing resources for screening and funding of special education needs
5. Creating parent education programmes to engage and support families
6. Incentivising schools to hire or upskill staff to become literary specialists

Primary

1. Improving primary student attainment in core subjects and skills by personalising student learning approaches, establishing centres of excellence in larger districts
2. Increasing resources for screening and evaluation of special education needs
3. Expanding special education teaching and learning
4. Introducing Innovation in Education programme by integrating STEAM throughout the curriculum and supporting student entrepreneurship initiatives
5. Building on the ECAP, create a Primary School Assistance Programme for eligible students
6. Expanding funding for extracurricular and enrichment activities delivered on school sites
7. Exploring education specific performance management systems for public school teachers

Secondary

1. Adding skills development and a range of TVET subjects starting in Year 7
2. Increasing social-economic and educational support for at risk youth
3. Increasing financial support for special educational needs screening and support
4. Expanding funding for extra-curricular and enrichment activities delivered on school sites
5. Implementing a National TVET Strategy and fund a specialist TVET college Explore education specific performance management systems for public school teachers
6. Developing a national programme to ensure students graduate with meaningful work experience

Tertiary and workforce development

1. Increasing scholarships for post-secondary 1–2-year certifications
2. Expanding non-traditional education and professional development opportunities including apprenticeship programmes and work-based learning models
3. Introducing employer incentives for workforce development
4. Conducting national skills surveys to align workforce development with job market needs