The Hon. Aboobucker Athambawa

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today we debate proposed education reforms. Students carry heavy schoolbags for 13 years; doctors say these loads cause spinal curvature. We in the NPP said only by reforming education can our country become one spoken of globally. We worked district by district to shape these reforms; as a result, we debate them here today.

¶ 02 The proposed reforms will be implemented in 2026, beginning with Grades 1 and 6 and then expanding. A key aim is to reduce student load and produce citizens who can face both national and global arenas.

¶ 03 One objective is to make schools quality institutions fit for teaching and learning. Do classrooms today truly support quality teaching-learning? Past governments crafted reforms, but they were not effectively realized in classrooms; thus we have fallen behind. Only a small fraction of those who complete 13 years reach university; the rest wander seeking jobs, often going abroad. Through these reforms, we seek to improve outcomes and increase performance, especially in science and technology — fields many students feel they cannot study. We also aim to achieve sustainable educational goals, improve civics education, build 21st-century skills and ensure equity. We plan to strengthen communication among school communities and improve transparency and outcomes. We believe that by changing mindsets, including among entrepreneurs and employers, these reforms can be well implemented.

¶ 04 We will operate on five pillars: curriculum development; human resource development; infrastructure and education administration reform; assessment and evaluation; and public awareness. On this basis, we expect to move the country forward.

¶ 05 Regarding English, it is a central element of these reforms. Learning English improves social esteem and strengthens both writing and speaking, preparing our students for the competitive world. These reforms will reduce student burden and enable all students to reach better goals. We are confident that, after Independence, we are now undertaking a truly meaningful education restructuring. Let us all unite and support it. Thank you.