EDUCATION Minister Maxine Henry-Wilson has admitted that there have been foul-ups in the dissemination of information by her ministry, but has denied that it is a policy matter.

She said, however, that realising the existence of the problem, the ministry was in the process of replacing the system of a single person being responsible for the flow of information by creating a “proper” department of communication.

She said that the ministry has also hired a public relations firm to assist in putting information “in an intelligible form” that various stakeholders can understand.

The minister was responding to questions raised by the Opposition’s spokesman on education, Andrew Holness.

Holness’ query followed the tabling in the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, of the report from a committee which was appointed to investigate the circumstances which led to the delay in the publication of last year’s GSAT results.

Henry-Wilson tabled a ministry paper (number six), which covered her ministry’s response to the finding and recommendations of the committee, as well as a copy of the report from the committee.

According to Holness, significant managerial problems exist, in terms of communications between senior personnel, in the ministry, “and it would appear as if there were policy differences as to whether or not the public should be made aware that there were difficulties in presenting the (2006) GSAT results”.

He said that the policy differences led to rumours, which created panic throughout the nation, with the delay of the publication of the results and with no formal explanation from the ministry.

He asked if anything has been done since to ensure that there is a policy to disseminate information to the public.

But, Henry Wilson said that, while there was a difference of opinion on offering a public explanation for the delay, “I don’t know if it can be termed policy difference”.

“My directive is always to give the information before somebody comes searching for it,” she said.

She added that the changes that were made to the GSAT system, in terms of the data, would benefit the students and should have been explained to the public earlier.

She noted that the real problem was the decision to allow five school choices, while there was a shortage of grade seven spaces in the high schools to accommodate the students.

“We should have dispelled the rumours by informing the public,” the minister admitted.

Holness suggested that it was not only an issue of disseminating information about GSAT results, but that there is “clearly”a problem with the dissemination of information regarding the whole education transformation process”.

He said: “In fact, the report (from the committee) encourages the minister to come up with a policy towards disseminating and communicating with the public.”

In response, the minister said: “Whereas there may have been a foul-up in the dissemination of the information, it was not based on policy.”

She said the Ministry of Education and Youth was the largest public sector entity, with over 1,000 institutions, nearly one million students, 27,000 teachers and a staff of 2,500.

She said that, in that situation, information originates at different points in the ministry and the flow might not be in the best interest of the ministry or the public.

She said that communications had never been a major department of the ministry, however, steps were now being taken to address the matter.