New Education Bill Will Lower Compulsory School Age to Four

2026-03-23 - 23:21

& Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NASSAU , BAHAMAS – Legislation aimed at improving early childhood education, along with replacing the decades-old Education Act, was debated in Parliament on Monday. Policymakers called the compendium of bills a pivotal moment in the nation’s history. Our Joshua Williams told us how it is expected to impact little learners across the country. Parliamentarians debated what education officials said was legislation geared towards reshaping education nationwide, along with the careful monitoring of youth programs. The first, the Education Bill 2026, once passed, will repeal the Education Act of 1962 and its various amendments over the years up to 1996. So exactly what will change? Education Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin explained. Glenys Hanna-Martin – Minister, Education “This legislation modernizes the legislative framework by introducing updated definitions, strengthening governance, expanding compulsory education, formalizing national curriculum standards, adding home-schooling regulations, enhancing accountability mechanisms, and aligning educational administration with contemporary global practices. It replaces the 1962 Act, which focused primarily on foundational governance, school registration, and minimum education standards.” Then there is the Early Childhood Care Commission Bill 2026. In addition to lowering the compulsory school age from five years old to four years old, she said it will address the absence of a centralized authority dedicated exclusively to early childhood development, along with proper training and qualifications for caregivers and educators. Glenys Hanna-Martin – Minister, Education “This bill represents groundbreaking legislation designed to enhance the governance, regulation, and management of early childhood care and education in The Bahamas. While it repeals the Early Childhood Care Act 2004, it retains and modernizes most of its provisions and introduces significant reforms to ensure the highest standards of care and education for children from birth to five years old.” But it is not just about education. Seconding the compendium of bills, Youth, Sports and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg focused on the National Youth Commission Bill. It will establish a commission chaired by a National Youth Commissioner, overseeing the implementation and coordination of programs and initiatives aligned with the National Youth Policy. While the opposition said they support improvements in education, Deputy Leader Shanendon Cartwright made this point. Shanendon Cartwright – Deputy Leader, Opposition “This is a government that spent $280 million on consultants. $280 million in consultants, couldn’t some of that, a good majority of that, go towards some of the challenges faced in the education system in our country and helping our teachers in continuing education? And so I’m sure the member for Englerston would say that she could use some of that $280 million, Mr. Deputy Speaker.”