Ministry of Education/Department of Education Services (DES) Maintains Reviewed Recruitment Process

The Department of Education Services (DES) continues to abide by its decision to only recruit suitably qualified staff locally this year despite information that is currently being circulated in the community suggesting otherwise.

“Recruitment to accommodate vacancies for 2020-2021 is ongoing. Internal and on-island qualified applicants have been shortlisted and interviews for primary vacancies are scheduled for later in June.  Some vacancies for secondary and specialist posts have already been filled with on - island applicants, states Acting Director of the Department of Education Services, Ms. Tammy Hopkins.

She further states that the recruitment process for the 2020-2021 school year commenced in January 2020 with advertisements published locally and internationally.  

There were other positions vacant for 2019-2020 for which recruitment and hires were completed prior to the impact of COVID-19 on the Cayman Islands. One such position was that of Numeracy Specialist in the Ministry of Education.

 This post became vacant in December 2019 and required the successful applicant to have the following specialist skills in addition to the requisite education qualification and teaching/leadership skills:

•         Strong and successful experience in mathematics/numeracy education and/or policy development at a senior level, and in curriculum development, programme development and the training of adults

•         Experience in leading a significant change management agenda at a senior level would be an advantage

•         Strong analytical, planning and organisational skills.

•         Demonstrated leadership qualities, excellent interpersonal skills, mature judgment, and experience working cooperatively with diverse groups.

The successful applicant from this recruitment accepted the post on 24 January 2020 with a start date of May 2020. The closure of our borders due to COVID-19 prevented the Numeracy Specialist from arriving on island until the competent authorities permitted same. 

 The successful candidate brings a wealth of experience in leading change, notable leading the transition to the new English National Curriculum. The Cayman Islands began implementation of the English National Curriculum at the primary level in the 2019-2020 school year.

He and his family are scheduled to arrive on the next air bridge from the UK and will quarantine for the requisite period as per regulations.