ARTICLE VIII. EDUCATION


 Section 1. Educational philosophy.

 (a) The government of the Virgin Islands shall provide for the education of its
 people and shall establish a system of elementary, secondary, and higher education
 which includes programs that respond to the people's needs, interests, and abilities.

 (b) Elementary and secondary education shall be compulsory for all persons
 within school age limits prescribed by law. Attendance at a public or an accredited
 non-public school shall satisfy this requirement. Public elementary and secondary
 education shall be free.

 Section 2. Virgin Islands Board of Education.

 (a) A Board of Education shall be established by law to set the educational
 policies of the Virgin Islands and to have other powers and duties as may be provided
 by law. Members of the board shall be elected for terms of four years from the two
 educational districts of St. Croix and St. Thomas-St. John, provided that at least one
 board member shall be a resident of St. John. The number, apportionment, and
 qualifications of board members shall be determined by law.

 (b) The Board of Education shall also act as the Virgin Islands Board of
 Vocational Education.

 (c) Members of the Board of Education elected respectively from St. Croix and
 St. Thomas-St. John shall constitute district boards, which shall have such powers
 over the conduct of local educational matters as may be delegated by the Virgin
 Islands Board of Education.

 Section 3. Education Commission. The Governor, with the advice and
consent of the Senate, shall appoint every five years an Education Commission of not
less than three nor more than seven members which shall review as a totality the
performance of the educational system of the Virgin Islands, including institutions of
higher learning and measures taken to promote the preservation of the culture and
traditions of the people of the Virgin Islands. Within two years of its appointment, the
commission shall submit to the Governor and the Senate a public report of its findings
and recommendations. The commission shall have such other powers and duties as
may be provided by law.

 ARTICLE IX. PROTECTION OF CULTURE
 AND THE ENVIRONMENT

 Section 1. Cultural development. No law shall be passed abridging the
development of Virgin Islands culture, language, traditions, or customs. Study of Virgin
Islands culture, including language, traditions, history, and art, shall be an integral part