 The chief education officer is responsible for the overall management of schools and instruction on the island and has been vacant since the departure of former CEO Dr Fiona Meyer. The education minister says the ministry is aware that the absence of a chief education officer is in some way affecting the effective management of the education sector. However, he states that the appointment of the chief education officer is the role of the teaching service commission. Honourable Sean Edward says he is aware that the post has been advertised and is expecting the commission to decide on an appointment soon. It's not a case where the prime minister, the Honourable Philip J.P., can hand pick a chief education officer. I cannot do it as minister of education. In the meantime, I can tell you it places a string on all of us because we have to double up in the absence of a chief and you would know too that the deputy chief is on medical leave. His position is not vacant and therefore we're not even considering replacing him but we are giving him sufficient time to make a full recovery and we're hoping that he'll be able to return with the enthusiasm and passion that would have characterised his disposition as deputy chief. The minister's comments came as sectional heads of the education ministry gathered for a leadership retreat aimed at providing a setting to forge meaningful connections to encourage innovation and creativity and to aid heads in developing important team building skills. Every year the ministry of education gets a sizeable chunk of the national budget and of course the adage has been around for much longer than you and I to whom much is given, much is expected. So after today, I'm hoping there will be a new mindset, there will be a new enthusiasm in the ministry of education amongst the head and I'm hoping that can filter down two line staff to improve on the overall image and aura of the ministry of education as we continue to programme for ultimately the children of this country. Divided into teams by way of colours, heads were charged with coming up with solutions to issues within the ministry and had to put together a talent within a short space of time in order to win the approval of the judges, the retreat facilitators. Permanent Secretary in the Department of Education, Innovation and Vocational Training, Michelle Charles says the exercise gave heads an opportunity to recharge, reflect and refresh in an environment away from the usual workplace setting. At the moment, we are pursuing a transformative agenda within the ministry of education and this cannot be a policy driven only at the ministry's end. However, it requires the all at all of ministry approach and for that we have brought in the various district education officers, we have brought in guidance councillors and principals. So we're hoping that there is a continuum, whatever happens at the policy drives what happens within the operational spheres and also from operational informs what happens at policy. So we're hoping that coming out of this, there is greater collaboration and a more harmonious relationship between the various departments at the ministry. The retreat was conducted to the theme supporting quality education through effective leadership and management and was facilitated by Cynthia Alexander, managing director and founder of CEA Associates, an executive coaching, leadership and organizational development company and the local author Betty Comby, managing director, owner of Moz Incorporated, a training and consulting firm. From the communications unit of the ministry of education, sustainable development, innovation, science, technology and vocational training, I am Chris Satney reporting.