Dr. Blaize’s Transparency Is a Start, Now Let’s Open the Process to the Public

In a country where public trust in systems is often hard-won, Dr. Jeffrey Blaize, the Chief Education Officer, did something commendable during the recent Ministry of Education press briefing: he showed up (he always does) and explained. For many Dominican families, especially those navigating the stress and confusion of the Grade Six National Assessment and school placement process, this moment of transparency was a welcome start.

Dr. Blaize calmly laid out how the placement mechanism is supposed to work, zones, raw averages, transfer requests, and scholarship awardees. He explained that placement into schools such as St. Mary’s Academy, Convent High School, and the Dominica Grammar School was based on performance and proximity, and he took care to dispel the notion that private school scholarship recipients were jumping the queue unfairly.

It was a professional and thorough presentation. But for many of us watching, parents, teachers, and even students, it still raised a deeper question: Why does this system still feel so opaque to the public? And why is it only after complaints and confusion that such clarity is offered?

The Current System Still Lacks Public Access

Let’s be honest. Each year, stories swirl: bright children with excellent scores who don’t get their preferred school, transfers denied without explanation, or parents who only find out placement results at the last minute. While Dr. Blaize was right to say that many of these decisions are guided by policy, the perception remains that something isn’t adding up.

During the press briefing, Permanent Secretary Chandler Hyacinth explained that the Ministry was not reacting to media pressure but addressing the need for clarity. Still, the very fact that such briefings aren’t part of a routine public education strategy is a sign that the Ministry’s communication methods need updating. We should not have to wait until the rumor mill is in full spin to hear directly from our education leaders.

What True Transparency Could Look Like

If we’re serious about equity and trust in education, then a few press conferences a year isn’t enough. The Ministry should publish:

• A detailed annual placement report with statistics on scores, zones, and final placements.
• A transparent list of transfer approvals and denials, with anonymized reasons and zone logic.
• Clear timelines for transfer requests, responses, and appeals.

Most importantly, there should be a formal public appeals process where parents and students can contest placement decisions with proper channels, not just through media appearances or social media frustration.

One mother in Portsmouth recently told me that her daughter scored above 90 but was not accepted into the school they had hoped for. “I don’t mind if she didn’t qualify,” she said, “but I want to know why.” That’s the gap this commentary is pointing at, not just in placement but in process. Transparency is not just about answering questions, it’s about making the answers available before we even have to ask.

Moving from Policy to Partnership

The education ministry has already done some groundwork. As Dr. Blaize explained, efforts are being made to rezone schools, adjust student populations, and even align the assessment with curriculum standards. These are critical long-term improvements, and we should give credit where it’s due.

But these structural moves must be accompanied by open doors and open books. The Grade Six Assessment affects not just scores, but lives, futures, and family decisions. If the public doesn’t feel part of the process, even the fairest system will breed doubt.

This year’s briefing was the first time in recent memory that a high-ranking official broke down the placement logic step by step. It shouldn’t be the last. Let’s institutionalize this openness, not just reactively, but proactively, year after year. Let’s make our education system not just one of merit, but one of accountability. 

And if Dr. Blaize is willing to start the conversation, we as parents, teachers, and citizens must be willing to keep it going.

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