October 2001 Table of Contents

It has come to a sorry point that many parents on Abaco have lost faith in the public school system. They must have received a severe jolt when the BGCSE exam results became public. Abaco Central High School produced results that were in many cases well above the national average. It was not a surprise because the school only has a turnover of about 10% of its 30+ teachers every year. Stability is a factor.

The number of A, B and C passes by the graduating class of 2001 set a record for the school since GCE days and proved that the best education available was provided by government. Specialist teachers in over a dozen subjects provide the students with the opportunity to go as far as they want, as demonstrated by the number of Grade 12 students who went straight to college and those who decided to work for a year before going off to college next year.

Under new principal Benjamin Stubbs the school will only accept even higher standards. Master Teacher Huel Moss Jr is now a member of the administration and encourages the students to always strive to be the best that they can be. At Abaco Central High School those who dedicate themselves to being the best always succeed. It's a school that once reflected central Abaco society in exact proportions but now has virtually no white children and about 30% Haitian descent children. The standards have not declined, however. Abaco Central provides for secondary students from Mores Island, Sandy Point, Crossing Rocks and the Cays.

But Abaco Central remains the Orphanage on Forest Drive. Even our Prime Minister, our Member of Parliament, seems to turn his back on the school. It would be nice if he passed by now and then and showed his appreciation for the excellent work being achieved in his constituency. Productive teachers and industrious students need encouragement. The placement of just one or two other teachers (Computer, English) would light the fuse to even greater heights of accomplishment.

No doubt about it, government schools on Abaco are providing first class education and Abaco Central High School is right there in the vanguard.

October 2001 Table of Contents