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 (as amended in 2008), which governs all education levels from pre-primary to tertiary level. Besides public educational institutions, the Act includes ‘private schools’ and ‘assisted private schools’ as national educational institutions. A ‘private school’ is defined as a school that is owned, managed, and financed by a person, religious community, or body, which is attended by twelve or more students continuously for more than eight hours per week. An ‘assisted private school’ is defined as a private school that receives assistance from the State.
2.1 State education provision
State schools
The state provides most education at the primary and secondary levels. In the 2014-15 academic year, enrolment at public schools accounted for 61% of total enrolment at primary level and 69% of total enrolment at secondary level. According to the 1997 Education Act, education is compulsory and free in public schools, from the ages five to 16.
Non-state managed, state schools
The 1997 Education Act allows for state schools to be managed by non-state actors, known as assisted private schools (Article 115).
Non-state funded, state schools
Public schools should not charge tuition fees, although the Minister can impose fees to all persons that are not citizens of any Member state and associated Member state of the Caribbean community (Article 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. In the 2014-15 academic year, there were 822 and 106 students enrolled in private primary and secondary schools, respectively.
State-funded (government-aided), non-state schools
The 1997 Education Act distinguishes between four types of assisted private schools (Article 115): 1) private schools that agree to receive public funds in the form of maintenance, infrastructure development, provision of equipment, and staff salaries; 2) private schools that are provided with publicly funded staff members; 3) private schools whose property is jointly owned by the State and a private proprietor; and 4) privately managed private schools that are owned by both the State and the Minister.
All assisted private schools are required to follow the National Curriculum and comply with the regulations established under the 1997 Education Act. Where an assisted private school is owned or managed by a religious community or body, the providers are additionally responsible for providing religious instruction to their students in accordance with their curriculum. In 2014/15, assisted schools accounted for 25% and 29% of total enrolments at primary and secondary level, respectively.
Contracted, non-state schools
No information was found.
2.3 Other types of schools
Homeschooling
Homeschooling is legal and regulated under the Education Act (Article 79). Parent or tutors must register their child with the Chief Education Officer on an annual basis and submit an education plan based on the guiding principles set by the Ministry. If homeschooling standards are not met, the Chief of Education Officer has the authority to 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 responsible for the regulation of all public, assisted private schools and private schools. According to the 1997 Education Act, the Chief Education Officer is responsible for the registration and administration of private schools.
The Office for Early Childhood Education (under the MoE) is responsible for all early childhood development (ECD) facilities (daycares and preschools), in collaboration with the Council on Early Childhood Education.
Vision: Dominica is a member of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The 2012-21 Education Strategy aims for Member States to align their national strategies and plans as part of the OECS Educational Support Project and form an alliance with the Global Partnership for Education.
3.1 Regulations by distinct levels of education
Early childhood care and education (ECCE) covers children under six and is provided by daycare centres (ages 3 months to 3 years) and preschool institutions (ages 3-5). There are currently 15 daycare centres and 68 preschools registered under the Ministry of Education. Private centres account for 66% of total ECCE enrolments.
Registration and approval: Private ECCE facilities are required to comply with the relevant provisions in the 1997 Education Act (see Multi-level regulations) and the Common Wealth of Dominica Arrangement on Education (Early Childhood Education) Regulations.
According to the 2003 Common Wealth of Dominica Arrangement on Education (Early Childhood Education) Regulations, all private ECCE facilities must meet the minimum standards in infrastructure (including space requirements, outdoor and indoor facilities, and number of toilets), while each centre 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 registered private early childhood centres 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 ECCE 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 children to be admitted to an Early Childhood centre, they must have received all of the required vaccinations for their age. All centres must keep an admissions register of the children attending the ECCE facility, including information on their medical history.
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, in accordance with the guidelines of the Public Health Authorities.
Profit-making: See Multi-level regulations.
Taxes and subsidies: Assisted private schools receive subsidies subject to conditions set in the 1997 Education Act and 2011 Commonwealth of Dominica Arrangement of Regulations. Government subsidies cover school maintenance, provision of furniture or equipment, infrastructure development, and payment of staff salaries.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: Assisted schools are required to follow the national curriculum and learning standards. Private schools are not required to follow the national curriculum, but must provide a detailed plan of their curriculum and learning material, which is subject to government approval.
Textbooks and learning materials: Assisted schools must follow the government-prescribed list of textbooks and learning materials, similar to public schools. However, textbooks used for religious instruction can be determined by the school's religious community or body.
Teaching profession: All teaching staff employed at private schools must have the same minimum qualifications as equivalent public schools (Article 113). The Chief Education Officer may declare any person who does not possess the minimum qualifications to be unfit for employment as a teacher in a private school.
Corporal punishment: Degrading punishment or treatment resulting in injury is prohibited in the enforcement of discipline in assisted private schools and private schools. 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 only administered as prescribed by the regulations. If other people than those named in the Article administer corporal punishment they are considered guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of one thousand dollars. In any event, the minister can always decide to abolish corporal punishment in public and assisted schools (Article 49).
Fee-setting: According to the 2011 Commonwealth of Dominica Arrangement of Regulations, private or assisted private schools are prohibited from increasing their fees or charging additional fees without the Minister's approval. If an institution intends to increase its fees, it must submit a request, and provide at least one term of notice to the Minister and parents/guardians (Article 83).
Admission selection and processes: A private school which denies admission to a child or expels a student on account of race or parental political affiliation is considered guilty of an offence and liable upon conviction to a fine of ten thousands dollars (Article 114).
Policies for vulnerable groups: Private providers may waive or reduce tuition fees for student from low-income households.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
School board: Assisted private schools must be managed by a Board of Management, which includes representatives of parents, teachers, staff, and personnel appointed by the Minister and by the school proprietor. If a parent teacher association does not exist, the principal can also establish a school committee composed by parents, teachers and members of the community. If the school provider is a member of religious community or body, one member from the board of management should belong to that body/community.
In private schools, the proprietor is responsible for the schools' management (Education Regulations 2011).
Reporting requirements: Assisted private schools must follow the same reporting requirements as those required for public schools. Private schools must provide the Minister with any information required by the regulations or deemed necessary by the educational authority. All private schools must be registered in the Private Schools Register (Education Act 1997).
School inspection: The Minister or Chief Education Officer may authorise a person to enter any private or assisted educational institution to inspect the facilities and verify their compliance with the regulations. For more information, see Multi-level regulations.
Student assessment: All students participate in National Assessments and 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 can be distinguished between state or private institutions. State institutions are wholly or largely maintained by the government from public funds, while private institutions are owned, managed and financed by a person, religious community or body, and not government-owned or subsidised. Higher education institutions may also be “external” (locally based or distant higher education providers that are not of Dominican origin) or “local” (of Dominican origin; either public or private). Currently, there is one public and four private higher education institutions operating in Dominica. 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 and the 2011 Commonwealth of Dominica Arrangement of Regulations for their establishment and operation (see Multi-level regulations). The accreditation process is voluntary. All registered post-secondary and tertiary education institutions are eligible to apply and may be accredited if they 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. The 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 or professional bodies. The National Accreditation Board collaborates with national regulatory bodies, as well as regional and international specialised accrediting bodies for the accreditation of programmes.
Teaching profession: During the accreditation process, private higher education institutions must fulfil the minimum requirements regarding the quality of their staff.
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 requirements for students to be eligible to enrol in certain programs.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Board: No information was found.
Reporting requirements: The quality of a higher education institution 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 2007 Accreditation Act authorises 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 Dominican Accreditation Mark to issue valid educational certificates.
Sanctions: See Multi-level regulations.
3.2 Multi-level regulations
The 1997 Education Act governs all education levels from pre-primary education to tertiary level, while the 2011 Education Regulations regulate the operation of private and assisted private schools.
Registration and approval: According to the 1997 Education Act and 2011 Commonwealth of Dominica Arrangement of Regulations, to establish a non-state school in Dominica, all proprietors (individuals or legal persons) must apply for approval from the Ministry of Education, Human Resource Planning, Vocational Training, and National Excellence. All applications must be accompanied by the prescribed fee and required documentation, including staff qualifications, financial resources, fees, liability insurance, and building description. A person charged or convicted of an offence under the Education Act or any criminal offence is prohibited from applying 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 consults with the Chief Education Officer on several application matters, including (a) whether the requirements specified under section 96 of the Act have been met; (b) deciding on the conditions under which a permit may be granted; (c) determining the maximum number of students who can be admitted to the school; and (d) any other matter that they consider necessary in respect to private schools. The Minister dictates the maximum number of students allowed to be enrolled in a particular educational institution. The Chief Education Officer maintains a register of all registered private schools (Article 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. All institutions that have been granted an authorisation permit must ensure that the license is prominently and conspicuously displayed at all times at the school and keep available a copy of the Regulations and the permit. If a private education institution is maintained without authorisation, the proprietor is liable to conviction or a monetary fine.
Profit-making: According to the 1997 Education Act, private educational institutions that do not benefit from any state assistance can be established either as a for-profit or non-profit educational institution.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Reporting requirements: Assisted private schools must follow the same reporting requirements as those established for public schools. Private schools are required to provide the Minister with any information required by the regulations or deemed necessary by the educational authority.
Inspection: The Minister or Chief Education Officer may authorise a person to enter any private or assisted educational institution to inspect the facilities to verify compliance with the regulations.
Sanctions: If an institution fails to comply or maintain the minimum requirements established for approval, the Minister may cancel the institution's authorisation permit. Proprietors can also submit a request for the closure of the education institution at least six months before the intended closure date, once submitting 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.
