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Being educated in VI is no 'disservice' to local children- Karia J. Christopher

- points out misconception in prestigious circles that foreign education is better
'Real Talk' television host, Karia J. Christopher, says there is a misconception in prominent circles that foreign education better equips children in the Virgin Islands (VI) to be able to compete globally. Photo: Facebook/Flow
While Deputy Governor, Mr David D. Archer Jr said that the VI has an amazing education system, he said parents are often forced to make decisions that are in the best interest of their child.. Photo: Facebook/Flow
While Deputy Governor, Mr David D. Archer Jr said that the VI has an amazing education system, he said parents are often forced to make decisions that are in the best interest of their child.. Photo: Facebook/Flow
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - 'Real Talk' television show host, Mrs Karia J. Christopher says there is a misconception in prominent circles that foreign education better equips children in the Virgin Islands (VI) to be able to compete in the world of work.

Speaking at the Season 2, Episode 4 of her television show on Sunday, July 5, 2020, with guest, Deputy Governor David D. Archer Jr, Christopher said locals with prestige prefer to send their children abroad instead of having them educated in the VI.

Prominence & Education 

"I went to a dinner party, a whole lot of David Archer like people were there... it was a prestigious dinner party, but the conversation had me a little restless," she said. 

According to Mrs Christopher, "persons who are doing well in the community, and have children, felt that the BVI was too small of a space to raise their children," she noted.

The Real Talk host said the conversation veered into local education being a 'disservice' to local children, leaving them unable to compete with the rest of the world and those in the Territory.

Foreign education Vs Local 

Citing her disapproval, Mrs Christopher said that while she agrees exposure better equips children for the world, she said as a mother, nothing can compare to the experience of growing and learning with children during the education journey. 

She questioned the Deputy Governor on his reasoning for sending his sixteen-year-old son away to be educated outside the Territory so early in his educational journey. 

While Deputy Governor Mr Archer Jr said the VI has an amazing education system, he said parents are often forced to make decisions that are in the best interest of their children.

Sending son away was a 'painful decision' - Dept Governor 

"My son, beside academics...., he is also an athlete and he plays basketball, the opportunity for him to go to an academic and athletic school is not right now in the BVI."

"I had to make a conscious decision, it hurt me, it was painful... but at the time the experience abroad was the best for him," Mr Archer said. 

Mrs Christopher remarked that while Mr Archer Jr's answer was a good one, an underlying issue she discovered in the Territory is that people continue to have a sense of prominence with having their children study abroad.

29 Responses to “Being educated in VI is no 'disservice' to local children- Karia J. Christopher ”

  • ta ta (07/07/2020, 10:11) Like (14) Dislike (7) Reply
    Chuppps all these want to be elites
    • HMMM (07/07/2020, 13:46) Like (11) Dislike (11) Reply

      This woman always trying be relevant

    • facts (09/07/2020, 07:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Why did her children attend private school and not public school? If she could afford she would have done the same as Archer. Who doesn't want the best for their children?
  • fact (07/07/2020, 10:18) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    "as a mother, nothing can compare to the experience of growing and learning with children during the education journey."
  • Mrs Tubman (07/07/2020, 10:38) Like (18) Dislike (7) Reply
    I agree with Mr Archer.
    A concern I have is that most of our graduates find it necessary to attend community College just to be able to enter a 4year college. It's as if HLSCC is their High School.
    In general, from my observation,the young people are mentally and educationally stunted.
    This goes too for many of those in the political arena.
    • @ Mrs. Tubman (09/07/2020, 11:03) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      You are wrong. Credits acquired at HLSCC can be transfered to most universities. There are many students who after graduating from HLSCC have gone on to top universities in the US and canada and have done remarkable well and have continued to excel in their career of choice. The reason why some students had to spend four additional years in other colleges to get their Bachelors is because they did not chose the courses at HLSCC that is required for the degree they pursued. This brainwashing have to stop. It is a pattern or plan to demoralize our people, and the sad thing is that it is encouraged by some of our own.
      • @@Mrs Tubmzn (11/07/2020, 13:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        The brainwashing done is on the students and parents. That defense you offered is insulting but acceptable to the locals and that is the a travesty. What top Colleges " many "of
        the students are accepted to? Our students are marginal upon graduation. they attend marginal colleges,and as a result they are passed over by employes in preference for workers from abroad. Their local teachers and counselors too are marginal. It is up to parents and students to push forward on their own, preparing themselves and seeking out an education that would launch them into a world reality.
  • My girl (07/07/2020, 11:07) Like (11) Dislike (21) Reply
    She always with some confusion, girl sit down.
    • My girl (07/07/2020, 16:57) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
      The jealousy is so obvious. Make your own headlines. Find your purpose. Yes! I am her friend.
  • TheCode (07/07/2020, 11:21) Like (41) Dislike (0) Reply
    The exposure is vital. You can always tell the difference between someone who has travelled and experience the world to someone who remained at home. Just by their perception of things, it’s much more than academics.
  • Voltage (07/07/2020, 11:24) Like (29) Dislike (1) Reply
    Having certain conversations with my peers often ends in disappointment because they haven’t experienced anything outside our shores. Even if you don’t intend to stay for the rest of your life, living abroad for a bit should be encourage if possible. The island mentality has to change.
    • Deh Watcha (07/07/2020, 14:23) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
      What do you consider having an "island mentality"?
      • Voltage @Deh Watcha (07/07/2020, 17:57) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
        Your answer lies in the comments of ANY news article.
      • John (07/07/2020, 20:35) Like (4) Dislike (6) Reply
        @Deh Watcha: A noteworthy example of having an island mentality is that sense of entitlement simply because they are BVI Nationals.
  • Yes (07/07/2020, 12:15) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    Loving the new hairstyle and new cleavage Karia..
  • OOOOUCH (07/07/2020, 12:32) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
    Did she send her daughter to college here? Please tell , I am asking for myself !!!!
  • Local abroad (07/07/2020, 14:59) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    It's funny how the local education is such a disservice, yet when many locals go away for further education they do well. It's also funny how it is said that many locals are lazy and not qualified for certain jobs, yet when many move away they qualify and get good jobs. This thing about local education and local people not being good enough has to stop. It is not the school, it is the person and what they want to achieve in life. I understand where both Karia and David are coming from.
    • @Local abroad (08/07/2020, 23:58) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      This is a method use to desenfranchise the locals. Many locals are qualified for positions and are being shut out of jobs when at the same time persons can come from any where in the world and get employment here in the BVI. One example is the hospital. BVIslanders are often refered as being entitled and rightfully they should be able to find employment in there own country. As for Karia and David I think they were very articulate in their presentations.
  • HOUSE (07/07/2020, 15:50) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    I not inviting u to my house again if you going run and talk people business like this.
  • Grading System (07/07/2020, 16:18) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Grading system the HLSCC is using is utterly ridiculous. Please let some one from the college explain it to you. It is totally aimed at frustrating, demoralizing and subjugating the students.
    Lets start by fixing that.
  • Penny (07/07/2020, 16:34) Like (5) Dislike (8) Reply
    Why is this even relevant?...she can afforrd to send her daughters to rich scools . Every body cant ...mine is going Hlscc...whats the problem?.....she just trying to stay in the spotlight ....she is lije a disaster waiting to happen...
  • not so (07/07/2020, 16:55) Like (13) Dislike (3) Reply
    Shoot the ball right in the socket. Some parents are more interested in prestige and doing whatever their money can buy to make sure their children make them feel and look good. Check the children who go away at young age to boarding schools or to live with relatives or friends so they can get a better education. These are the children who show up later raving mad because of the pressure their parents put on them. Alot of them return him mentally ripped up, introduced to street drugs and molested resulting in them being gay. It's all about the image you the parents need to portray. At such a tender age, your child need mom and dad. I therefore wish the young man and those in his shoes the best of God's protection because he going need it. (Please don't read me wrong because i wish him good and I will never wish nothing bad on anybody child)

    Karia I very much agree with you. Those who bashing you only read the headline but didn't read the article. You and I went to school in the BVI. My school days, teachers like Teacher Cicily, Teacher Kirlin and Mr. Calendar use to take us under a tree in the cool of the afternoon. We had wooden hard benches and desks. I don't think I turn out bad and my children went school in the public system here too. They each were allowed to charter their own paths and decided who they wanted to be. One of them change her courses every year. But its her choice.
    • @not so (08/07/2020, 21:37) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Street drugs? Molested? Turn to gay?

      Really??!!

      A person does not need to be molested to “turn to gay”. God forbid one of your children’s chartered paths led them into a same sex relationship. The majority of your post is the reason why some feel young adults should experience a portion of their life living off island.

      If I was Karia I’d be embarrassed to have shared any portion of my childhood with a person that took the time to write and publicly post such trash mentality.
  • watch (07/07/2020, 17:15) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    The show speaks to non collegiate education such as junior or high school. Both parties made excellent points. It was a great watch.
  • parents (08/07/2020, 10:22) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Each parent has a right to educate and parent their children as they see fit. Like a long distance marriage, long distance parenting will come with its backlashes. When hindsight time comes around, which is usually years after the move to send your child away from you, then you realize that you would have preferred to ask God for a normal, well mannered, obedient child than for a child that we push to academics to the point that they get unhinged trying to please mommy and daddy while they were not allowed to be themselves. Speaking to a child 2 or 3 times a day on whatsapp is nothing compared to being there to give your child a hug every night, preparing meals and sitting and eating with your child. Like Archer, my son being athletic and not being able to pursue his goals locally, I made the decision to send him to a school overseas. Only thing is, my whole family relocated for the sake of my son. No way was I sending him to no aunt or uncle to live with nor no boarding school.
    Mrs. Christopher raised some excellent points and I can see from that interview that she is a real mother who would grieve for her children out there as minors. Every decision parents make have a price, some may be good and some not so good. One of the comments hit the nail on the head. All of us as parents want our children to make us proud, but what is the cost when it is about our ego
  • down2earth (08/07/2020, 13:53) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    As a mother, I present that 'exposure' does not necessarily require a 'live abroad' although it surely helps. In stead, parents and children could have discussions on current world issues, have children read, watch the news, take them shopping right here, visit some of the islands in the Virgin Islands (Br), have them eat with knife and fork etc.

    On another note, it is important that parents be a physical presence in their teenager(s) life. It is often difficult for them as they traverse an abstract world.
    Your presence parents, helps to keep them grounded!

  • E. Leonard (08/07/2020, 17:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The true value of VI education is measured by outcomes. Can VI graduates function effectively in the world of work at home and abroad? Can VI graduates hold their own at external tertiary educational institutions? If Virgin Islanders are not proud of and don’t support its own who will? Being a true-to-the-bone Virgin Islander must be more than words. People of African descent seemed to have been conditioned to believe in others, not their own. Have we bought into the superior complex?


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