MINISTRY OF EDUCATION PURSUING SEVEN PRIORITY AREAS TO ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO EDUCATION

Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 29, 2022 (SKNIS): Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, the Honourable Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, outlined seven priority areas that will ensure that every child has equitable access to quality education in a safe child-friendly environment.

The seven priority areas were shared at the opening ceremony of the Annual Summer Workshop for teachers held at the Rivers of Living Waters Christian Center on Monday, August 29, 2022. Some of the priorities are achievable in the short to medium term, while others will undoubtedly require an extended period to complete.

The first two agenda items mentioned involve construction. The rebuilding of a brand new Basseterre High School, which the Cabinet reaffirmed, will be done on the original historic site on Victoria Road as well as the complete renovation of the Joshua Obadiah Williams Primary School in Molineux. The primary school was severely damaged by fire in March this year.

The third priority mentioned is the restart of the One-to-One Laptop Programme with prerequisite policies that guide the integration of technology use in the classroom and more. Teachers will also be provided with the necessary tools to “do their work.”

Strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) with appropriate certification for successful students, increasing opportunities for teachers to access specialist training; and introducing electronic prep work templates for teachers.

The priority of providing free tuition for those accepted into C. F. Bryant College was already achieved.

“Colleagues, education is the core of every great society and is the vehicle by which citizens are able to elevate themselves,” Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Hanley stated. “Therefore, it is critical that we as educators begin to reimagine education so that we can adequately prepare our students, to successfully manoeuvre the turbulent waters of life. Our scope for education and the lens through which we view education must be wide enough to encompass pre-kindergarten to college and factor in both public and private institutions.”

“If we are to truly live by the motto of this great Federation, then ‘Country Above Self’ in the context of education means that the environment must be one of inclusion and collaboration,” Dr. Hanley added.

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