Joy Basdeo:My Life in Education
Joy Basdeo
Currently serving as Permanent Secretaryin the Cayman Islands' Ministry of Education, Mrs. Joy Basdeolooks back on more than 28 years of educational service to hercountry.
It was almost a case of "educationby default" when in 1973, Mrs. Joy Basdeo returned home fromCanada's McMaster University with a bachelor's degree in English.
Uninterested in finance and tourism, theIslands' twin economic pillars, she was bonded to work with governmentand since teacher-training was not required in those days, shebegan teaching English at the then Cayman Islands High School(CIHS).
That she had discovered her true vocation was soon evident. Mrs.Basdeo developed the school's first careers programme and as quicklytook on the role of pastoral counsellor.
Within two years, Cayman had adopted a policyof special training for all teachers, so Mrs. Basdeo journeyedto the University of Bristol, where she earned a post graduatecertificate of Education.
She also completed short counselling andcareers courses before returning as one of the Islands' firstgraduate-trained teachers the following year.
At that point, she was appointed deputyhead of CIHS but she still maintained her pastoral function.
By 1979, she was again on the move, havingearned a scholarship to Sheffield Polytechnic.
There, she completed a post graduate diplomain educational management, placing her in line for her appointmentas head of the high school.
As importantly, Sheffield had introducedher to the concept of change management, initiating what wouldbecome a life-long interest and remaining the focus of her worktoday.
Continuing to make her mark on education,the appointment as Deputy Chief Education followed in 1980.
A new post, Mrs. Basdeo now had responsibilityfor secondary education in Cayman, but within two years she wasagain promoted this time to Chief Education Officer (CEO).
The education veteran explains that as CEO,the need for well-qualified teachers became her paramount concern.
"We needed to ensure not only thatall our teachers would be especially trained, but also that theyshould all become graduates," she says.
Accordingly, Mrs. Basdeo first arrangedto bring tutors to Cayman so that sixteen senior teachers couldcomplete the Sheffield course in education management.
Later, 32 teachers also obtained bachelor'sdegrees in education when she initiated a programme of classesprovided by University of Miami tutors who were flown in at weekends.
During this period, Mrs. Basdeo also workedto strengthen Cayman's Lighthouse School, developing programmesfor handicapped children and those at risk, reflective of herinterest in special needs education. She says that the openingof the New Lighthouse School in 2001 was one of the proudest daysof her professional life.
Then in 1998 came the unexpected; Mrs. Basdeowas appointed Permanent Secretary of Health, beginning a four-yearperiod that she describes as "a significant learning experience,"before returning to the educational fold in 1992, also as PermanentSecretary. She was again in the forefront as a move to launchan era of significant educational change began in Cayman.
A National Education Plan had already beeninitiated for the Islands, but implementation had failed.
Starting again and looking at what othercountries were doing, Mrs. Basdeo discovered Cambridge Management'sStrategic Planning for Education, a cascade, value-based, bottom-upmodel for development.
This was the model that Cayman chose tofollow and that subsequently powered Mrs. Basdeo's approach toplanning.
"You have to pull people with you andtune into their values in order to succeed," she points out,adding, "We trained many in this area, taking them out ofthe everyday existence and making them realize what was possible."
The Islands' new National Education Plan(1994-1999), a values based strategic design which involved 350administrators, teachers, parents and students was approved byParliament in 1995, the implementation process followed.
The Plan has subsequently been updated until2005.
It was decided that every school shoulddevelop a site-based plan, working with parents, students andthe community to "translate the National Plan at the locallevel."
By 1999, planning objectives were met, resultingin all Cayman Islands government schools becoming driven by site-basedmanagement.
According to Mrs. Basdeo, the benefits arepriceless; principals feel a greater sense of ownership; parentsare more involved; schools are better cared for and all participantsfeel pride of ownership.
Says Mrs. Basdeo: "I regard the introductionof strategic planning as the true highlight of my years in education,just as I cherish my efforts in the area of health and drug abuseprevention."
And facets of site-based planning continueto evolve. Mrs. Basdeo points to the 1996 creation of the CaymanIslands Schools Inspectorate, describing it as "the jewelin the crown," .
She explains: "It provides the measurablestandards of school performance that are so vital." Further,the 2000 Education Department Review the Millett Report has resulted in an initiative to restructure the departmentso that it can better support the school improvement initiative.
Referring to future plans, Mrs. Basdeo notesthat Cayman's new Government came to power last October, on amandate that embraces an educational and training focus.
The Ministry connects education, human resourcesand culture and department heads have come together to establisha Ministry philosophy statement and guiding principles for thesetting of policy.
She is already deeply involved in projectssuch as setting a work programme for the next four years, linkingwith Cayman's Vision 2008 initiative and thus ensuring that theMinistry of Education supports national development through thepeople.
(Vision 2008 is a ten-year National Strategic Plan for the CaymanIslands, Mrs Basdeo designed the planning phase of the exercisewhich involved over 2000 people and was its Executive Directorfrom its inception in 1998 to its approval by Parliament in July1999).
In addition, arising from the 14th EducationalConference in Halifax, the Honourable Roy Bodden and thereforeMrs. Basdeo as his Permanent Secretary - will be working on alarge policy agenda over the next three years.
This includes school improvement; technicaland vocational education; public and private partnership in educationand training; information and communication technology; citizenshipeducation; and, training of teachers.
Key to planned changes in education and training is an excitingmove to web-based technology in the classroom and for businesssupport. The programme called ITALIC (Improving Teaching and Learningin Cayman) is awaiting Government approval and funding beforeit is unveiled to educators.
"I f we are to be a 21st century, service-basedcountry, we must ensure that every student is a model user oftechnology, and that means that every teacher must be able touse the tools to create a dynamic learning environment for ourchildren," Mrs. Basdeo commented.
Even following almost three decades of serviceto education, there seems little prospect of slowing down. Stillin pursuit of personal goals that she can use to the benefit ofher Islands, in 2001 Mrs. Basdeo completed a Masters Degree inStrategic Human Resource Management at Durham Business School.
"This is a gift to myself," shesays, "I never had the freedom when my family was young butwhat is really satisfying at this point is that I can apply whatI learn on the spot, especially in our new area of labour andtraining. To me, that's what education is all about, change andchallenge, investing in our people today so that Cayman can benefittomorrow."
She particularly encourages young Caymaniansto go into teaching, and points to the many improvements to conditionsand remuneration which have taken place over the past ten years.
"Teaching is an honourable and excitingcareer option. There are scholarships available, and helping tobuild a stronger Cayman through working with the younger generationis a real opportunity available to our young men and women,"she adds.
Joy Basdeo has been married for the past30 years to Sam Basdeo, President of the Community College ofthe Cayman Islands. Their four children, Dax, Brett, Samanthaand Jesse are all at various stages of their education.