Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Technical & Vocational Training, the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin said before the project to create a new history book for high schools in The Bahamas, the history curriculum had not been updated for over 40 years, which is a “mind-boggling” thing to her.
The Acting Prime Minister was speaking at a Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training press conference held at the Ministry on Monday, September 22, 2025, to announce that the Bahamian high school textbook called, “Towards A Common Loftier Goal: A History Text For Secondary Schools” is ready to be distributed to all schools throughout the archipelago.
She said, “As a new and sovereign people who are breaking away from the vestiges of colonialism, it would have taken us from 1982 for us to address this.”
The Acting Prime Minister thanked the textbook’s co-Editors-in-Chief, UB Associate Professor of History and prominent Bahamian historian, Dr. Christopher Curry and Assistant Director of Education, Dr. Pearlene Baker for their tireless work in spearheading the project.
She highlighted that the Assistant Director has reformed the high school history curriculum, which is a major step in the country.
The textbook covers such subject matters as Ancient Civilisations: African and Indigenous People; Colonialism, Conquest and Capitalism; Migration of People; Age of Revolution and Reform: The Fight For Freedom; Muted Freedom: Post Emancipation Adjustment; On the Margins of the Margin: Family Island History and The Modern Bahamas: 1920 – 2020.
At the launch to announce the new textbook in April of this year, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis explained that whole generations had come and gone, taught more about European explorers than Bahamian trailblazers.
“More about colonial administrators than our own heroes. More about foreign exploits than Bahamian triumphs. Minister Hanna-Martin knew that had to change.
“And so, the idea was born: a new history textbook, made for Bahamians, by Bahamians.”
Prime Minister Davis said, in July 2022, a full proposal was submitted to Cabinet.
“And I want you to know when we sat around that table, we did not hesitate. We knew this was more than just an educational project. It was an act of liberation. It was an act of love for our country.”
Attending the press conference were Permanent Secretary, Lorraine Armbrister; Director of Education, Dominique McCartney-Russell; District Superintendent Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island, Acklins and Long Island, Jerome Forbes; Dr. Baker as well as teachers and students from several high schools.
