THE MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION is responsible for the development and implementation of Government’s basic education policy.

As such, he is responsible for:

• organizing the functioning of nursery and primary education;
• designing and determining curricula and monitoring their implementation;
• conducting studies and research on the most appropriate basic education methods;
• developing the principles of management and evaluation of schools at this level of education;
• ensuring the moral, civic and intellectual education of school-age children in conjunction with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education;
• designing and disseminating standards, rules and procedures for assessing learners;
• monitoring and controlling the administrative and pedagogic management of public and private institutions at this level of education;
• drawing up and monitoring the implementation of the educational grid at this level of education;
• developing, analysing and compiling statistics at this level of education;
• developing the book policy for this level of education;
• fighting against illiteracy;
• monitoring secular and denominational private nursery and primary schools;
• monitoring the construction of school buildings and infrastructure at this level of education;
• monitoring the activities of Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA);
• managing and ensuring ongoing training for teachers and ancillary staff, subject to the duties devolved to other Ministries.

He liaises between the Government and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in conjunction with the Ministry of Arts and Culture and the Ministry of External Relations.

He is assisted by a Secretary of State.