NON-STATE ACTORS IN EDUCATION
2.2 Non-state education provision
3.1 Regulations by distinct levels of education
- Early childhood care and education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
- Primary and secondary education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
- Tertiary education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
3.3 Supplementary private tutoring
The overarching education regulatory framework in Dominica is the 1997 Education Act (amended in 2008), which governs all levels of education from pre-primary education to tertiary level. In addition to the public educational institutions, the 1997 Education Act (as amended 2008) includes ‘private school’ and ‘assisted private schools’ as educational institutions that participate in the National Educational System in Dominica. A ‘private school’ is defined as an owned, managed, and financed school by a person, religious community, or body attended by twelve or more students continuously for more than eight hours per week. An ‘assisted private school’ is referred to as a private school that receives assistance from the State under the 1997 Education Act (1997 amended in 2008).
2.1 State education provision
State schools
In Dominica, the state provides most education at the primary and secondary levels. In the academic 2014/2015, enrolment at public schools accounted for 61% of enrolment in primary education and 69% of student’s enrolment in secondary education. According to the 1997 Education Act (amended 2008), education is compulsory and free ( in public schools), from ages five to 16.
Non-state managed, state schools
The 1997 Education Act (amended 2008) established the option for a state school to be managed by non-state actors and become assisted private schools (art. 115).
Non-state funded, state schools
The Education act mentions that tuition fees should not be charged in public schools. However, the Minister can impose such fees to all persons that are not citizens of any Member state and associated Member state of the Caribbean community. Moreover, the Minister can approve in writing the application of other charges to public schools and assisted public schools (art. 16)
2.2 Non-state education provision
Independent, non-state schools
Private schools are those established, owned, and managed by private proprietors, including natural or legal persons. Private schools have the freedom to set their own curricula and learning standards. Data for the year2014/15 suggests private schools enrolled 822 and 106 pupils/students at primary and secondary education levels, respectively.
State-funded (government-aided), non-state schools
According to article 115 of the 1997 Education Act (as amended in 2008), there are four types of assisted private schools. There are private schools that agree to receive public funds in the form of maintenance, provision of school furniture or equipment, building of an extension to the school, staff salaries payment, or any other purpose approved by the Minister. Second, a private school that has agreed to receive staff members paid from public funds. Third, a school whose property is jointly owned by the State and a private proprietor, or a school that uses property leased by the State to a private proprietor; these types of schools are jointly managed by the Minister and the private proprietor and the staff members are paid from public funds. The fourth type of assisted schools are the schools that is owned by the State and the Minister agrees that is should become an assisted private school for the purpose of its management. Assisted private schools must follow the National Curriculum and comply with the regulations established under the 1997 Education Act (as amended in 2008). Where an assisted private school is owned or managed by a religious community or body, the latter are also responsible for providing religious instructions to their students according to their specific curricula. Data for the year 2014/15 suggests that assisted schools enrolled 25% and 29% students at primary and secondary levels, respectively.
Contracted, non-state schools
No information was found.
2.3 Other types of schools
Homeschooling
Homeschooling is legal in Dominica and regulated under the Art. 79 from the Education Act. The Parent or tutor must register their children with the Chief Education Officer on an annual basis and submit three months before starting home education an education plan based on the guiding principles stated by the Ministry. If homeschool standards are not being met, the Chief of Education Officer can terminate the homeschooling program.
Market contracted (Voucher schools)
No information was found.
Unregistered/Unrecognised schools
No information was found.
The Ministry of Education, Human Resource Planning, Vocational Training and National Excellence (MOE) is in charge of regulating public, assisted private schools and private schools. According to the 1997 Education Act (amended 2008), the Chief Education Officer is responsible for updating the Private School Register and delegating to a professional staff of the Ministry for the registration and administration of private schools. The MOE through the Office for Early Childhood Education is responsible for all ECD facilities, both daycares, and preschools, and with the Council on Early Childhood Education in charge of providing advice to the Minister on matters relating to ECD.
Vision: Dominica is a member of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The 2012-2021 Education Strategy provides an educational framework for Member States to align their national strategies and plans and part of the OECS Educational Support Project and alliance with the Global Partnership for Education.
3.1 Regulations by distinct levels of education
In Dominica, early childhood care and education cover children under six and is provided by daycare centers for children from three months to three years old and preschool institutions for children from three to five years old. There are currently 15 daycares and 68 preschools registered with the Ministry of Education, from which private centers are the main providers accounting for 66% of national ECCE enrolment.
Registration and approval: Private Early Childhood Education facilities must comply with the legal requirements dictated by section 95 of the 1997 Education Act (as amended in 2008) (see Multi-level regulations) and must follow the Common Wealth of Dominica Arrangement on Education (Early Childhood Education) Regulations requirements. According to the Common Wealth of Dominica Arrangement on Education (Early Childhood Education) Regulations (2003) all private facilities must fulfill with the requirements on infrastructure which includes specification on room space area, outdoors and indoors facilities and the number of toilets and handbasins according to age and number of children. Every center must be insured against natural disasters.
Licence: See Multi-level regulations.
Profit-making: See Multi-level regulations.
Taxes and subsidies: The state provides subsidies for private registered early childhood centers in order to achieve universal access to early childhood education. For more information, see Multi-level regulations.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: Private facilities must follow the programmes and policies prescribed by the Minister, but can further implement their own programmes with approval from the Chief Education Officer.
Teaching profession: All teaching staff working at an Early Childhood center must complete a course on Early Childhood Education and possess a police clearance certificate. Principals must complete a course on management and supervision of schools.
Fee-setting: See Multi-level regulations.
Admission selection and processes: For a child to be admitted at an Early Childhood center, must first provide evidence that he/she has received all of the required immunization for his/her age. In addition, all centers must keep an admission register from the children attending the centers, including the medical history and medication record for every child attending the facility.
Policies for vulnerable groups: No information was found.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Reporting requirements: See Multi-level regulations.
Inspection: See Multi-level regulations.
Child assessment: No information was found.
Sanctions: See Multi-level regulations.
Registration and approval: See Multi-level regulations.
Licence: See Multi-level regulations.
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH): Private educational institutions are required to comply with the same health and sanitary arrangements as public and assisted private schools under the guidelines of the Public Health Authorities.
Profit-making: See Multi-level regulations.
Taxes and subsidies: Assisted private schools receive subsidies subject to conditions prescribes by the 1997 Education Act (amended 2008) and the 2011 Commonwealth of Dominica Arrangement of Regulations, including subsidies for school maintenance, furniture or equipment, building, staff salaries, or any other purpose approved by the Minister. No information was found regarding private schools.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: Assisted schools must comply with the national curricula and learning standards. However, private schools are not required to follow the national curriculum but must provide a detailed plan of their curricula and instructions at the moment of application for Ministerial approval. Private schools may implement their curricula and own school learning project.
Textbooks and learning materials: Assisted schools must follow the prescribed lists of textbooks and practices as all the public schools. However, in religious classes, the textbooks are determined by the school's religious community or body.
Teaching profession: According to each academic level, all teaching staff employed at a private school must have the same minimum qualifications as in an equivalent public schools (art. 113). The Chief Education Officer may declare any person who does not possess the minimum qualification to be unfit for employment as a teacher in a private school.
Corporal punishment: In the enforcement of discipline in public schools, assisted private schools and private schools degrading or injurious treatment shall not be administered. However, according to the Education Act, corporal punishment may be administered in state schools where no other punishment is considered suitable or effective. Corporal punishment can only be administered by the deputy principal or any teacher appointed in writing. It must be registered in the punishment book and as prescribed by the regulations. If other people than those named in the article administer such corporal punishment they are guilted of an offence and liable to pay a fine of one thousand dollars. In any event the minister can always decide to abolish corporal punishment in public and assisted schools (art. 49).
Fee-setting: According to the Commonwealth of Dominica Arrangement of Regulations (2011), private or assisted private schools are not allowed to increase their fees or charge additional fees without the Minister's approval. If an institution intends to increase its fees, it must submit a request with at least one term notice to the Minister and the student parents or tutors (art. 83).
Admission selection and processes: A private school which denies admission to a child or expels a student on account of race or political affiliation of the parents of the student is found guilty of an indictable offence and liable on conviction to a fine of ten thousands dollars (art. 114)
Policies for vulnerable groups: The authority or proprietor of a school shall, in establishing the quantum of any fee to be charged or collected, adopt rules for waiving and reducing the fee in cases of a student whose parents by reason of their low income or financial status would have difficulty in paying the entire amount of the fee.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
School board: Assisted private schools must be managed by a Board of Management, whereas in private schools the proprietor is responsible for the schools management (education regulations 2011). The Board of Management of an assisted private school must include representation of parents, teachers, staff, and personnel appointed by the Minister and by the school proprietor. In case a parent teacher association does not exist, the principal can also establish a school committee composed by parents, teachers and members of the community in the number set by the principal. In case the proprietor is a member of religious community or a body a member of the board of management should belong to that body/community.
Reporting requirements: Assisted private schools must follow the same reporting requirements as those established for public schools. Private schools must provide the Minister with the information required by the regulations or any other deemed necessary by the educational authority. All private schools must be registered in the Private School Register, which must be annually certified. (Education Act 1997 amended in 2008).
School inspection: The Minister or the Chief Education Officer may authorize a person to enter any private or assisted educational institution to inspect the facilities to verify compliance with the regulations for authorization permit. For more information, see Multi-level regulations.
Student assessment: All students in Dominica participate in the National Assessments, the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) to enter tertiary education. For more information, see Multi-level regulations.
Diplomas and degrees: No information was found.
Sanctions: See Multi-level regulations.
Higher education institutions in Dominica may be categorized as state or private institutions. State institutions are wholly or mainly maintained at public expense and private institutions are owned, managed and financed by a person, religious community or body – not government-owned or subsidized. Furthermore, higher education institutions may be “external” locally based or distant higher education providers that are not of Dominican origin or “local” that, whether private or public, are of Dominican origin. Currently, there are one public and four private higher education institutions operating in Domenica. The National Accreditation Board (NAB) is responsible for post-secondary and tertiary education accreditation.
Registration and approval: Higher education institutions must comply with the legal requirements established in the 1997 Education Act (amended 2008) and the 2011 Commonwealth of Dominica Arrangement of Regulations for establishment and operation of higher education institutions in Dominica (see Multi-level regulations). The accreditation process is voluntary for which all registered post-secondary and tertiary education institutions are eligible and must fulfil the requirements established in the 2007 Accreditation Act.
Licence: See Multi-level regulations. In the case of the accreditation, the certificate of accreditation is valid for five years, after which institutions must re-apply for re-accreditation.
Profit-making: See Multi-level regulations.
Taxes and subsidies: No information was found.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: Specialised programme accreditation is generally required in fields such as medicine, engineering, law, and teaching. Specialised or programme accreditation evaluates specific educational programmes leading to the award of qualifications at the post-secondary and tertiary level and is primarily undertaken by specialised accrediting bodies or professional bodies. The National Accreditation Board collaborates with national regulatory bodies for the professions, and regional and international specialised accrediting bodies in the accreditation of programmes.
Teaching profession: During the accreditation process, private higher education institutions must fulfil the requirements regarding the quality of their faculty.
Fee-setting: No information was found.
Admission selection and processes: To be admitted at a university, students must pass four of the CXC General subjects. However, institutions may require additional specific requirements to enrol in certain programs.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Board: No information was found.
Reporting requirements: The quality of a HEIs is assessed by The National Accreditation Board (NAB), which is responsible for issuing accreditation certificates based on the quality and standards of tertiary education and training in Dominica.
Inspection: The Accreditation Act (2007) authorized the board members to inspect the facilities to verify compliance with the accreditation requirements. For more information, see Multi-level regulations.
Assessment: No information was found.
Diplomas and degrees: Accredited institutions of higher education are provided with a Dominica Accreditation Mark to issue valid educational certificates.
Sanctions: See Multi-level regulations.
3.2 Multi-level regulations
The 1997 Education Act (amended in 2008), governs all levels of education from pre-primary education to tertiary level, but the Education Regulations 2011 regulate private and assisted private schools operation
Registration and approval: According to the 1997 Education Act (amended 2008) and the 2011 Commonwealth of Dominica Arrangement of Regulations, to establish a non-state school in Dominica, all proprietors ( an individual or legal person) must apply for approval from the Ministry of Education, Human Resource Planning, Vocational Training, and National Excellence. All applications must be accompanied by a prescribed fee and the required documentation, including number and staff qualifications, financial resources, fees applied, liability insurance, and building description. A person charged or convicted of an offence under the Education Act or any criminal offence in the preceding three years is not allowed to apply as an educational institution provider or director. The approval process includes a site visit to verify the information on the application and inspect the facilities. The Minister shall, in considering an application referred to in regulation 60, consult the Chief Education Officer - (a) in satisfying himself whether the requirements specified under section 96 of the Act have been met; (b) in deciding on the conditions subject to which a permit may be granted under the Act to a school; (c) in determining the maximum number of students who can be admitted to a school under section 99 of the Act; and (d) in deciding any other matter that he considers necessary respecting private schools. the Minister dictates the maximum number of students allowed to be enrolled in a particular educational institution. The Chief Education Officer shall maintain a register of all registered private schools (art. 94).
Licence: Upon fulfilling all the minimum requirements for approval, an initial permit is granted for three years, after which all educational institutions must re-apply for approval. When institutions comply with the minimum requirements for re-approval, a second permit is granted for five years or when the Minister considers it suitable without an expiration date. All institutions that have been granted an authorization permit must ensure that the license is prominently and conspicuously displayed at all times at the school and keep available at the private school a copy of these Regulations and a copy of the permit. If a private education institution is maintained without authorization, the proprietor will be is liable to conviction or a monetary fine.
Profit-making: According to the 1997 Education Act (as amended in 2008), private educational institutions that do not benefit from any States assistance can be established as a for-profit or non-profit educational institution.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Reporting requirements: The assisted private schools must follow the same reporting requirements as those established for public schools. Private schools must provide the Minister with the information required by the regulations or any other deemed necessary by the educational authority. All private schools must be registered in the Private School Register, which must be annually certified. (Education Act 1997 amended in 2008).
Inspection: The Minister or the Chief Education Officer may authorize a person to enter any private or assisted educational institution to inspect the facilities to verify compliance with the regulations for authorization permit.
Sanctions: If an institution fails to comply or maintain the minimum requirements established for approval, the Minister can cancel the authorization permit. Proprietors can also request an institution's closure at least six months before the intended closure date and submit all the school records to the Ministry.
3.3 Supplementary private tutoring
No information was found.
Financial operation and quality
No information was found.
No information was found.
