_(2).png)
‘Education Infrastructure needs a lot of work’ – VG Parent
Parents and residents have been boldly getting up in public meetings to appeal to the current National Democratic Party (NDP) government to do more for teachers in the education system which will in turn have a domino effect on children. The most recent call was made on June 18, 2014 at a community meeting called by the Virgin Islands Party (VIP).
The parent/resident was at the time saluting Veteran Politician and Former Chairman of the VIP and current Ninth District Representative Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal OBE for his efforts at bringing education into the heart of the Virgin Gorda community many years ago.
“An illiterate community is a community that does not grow and we need to put more emphasis on education,” said the concerned parent. She said that the education infrastructure needs a lot of work and teachers need to be trained.
“Training needs to be ongoing, we have a lot of good teachers but training needs to be ongoing with all the technology that comes on stream not every year but every single second something changes, we need to ensure that our children are up to par with the rest of the world,” she stressed.
The concern expressed for education by the resident was one that Chairman of the VIP Honourable Julian Fraser RA said that he stands behind very passionately.
“I remember going to school a long time ago, no gymnasium, no auditorium, no cafeteria and you can’t show me one today. We need to put our full weight behind education, no half stepping,” said Hon Fraser.
Hon Fraser recalled the process which was started of accrediting the schools; a process which he said is very crucial but has been put on the back burner. “When I launched my campaign in 1999 I said the time has come when we shall move our schools to accreditation I was scorned and mocked,” he said.
He stressed the need for a junior high school as opposed to the current. “We cannot continue to have so many kids up on that campus called a high school! We need a junior high, these are systems that are old, revolutionary, they are old steps but we have to take them nonetheless and the time has come when it has to get done.”
Hon Fraser and the parent/resident were further supported by former Minister for Education and Culture, current First District Representative Honourable Andrew A. Fahie. “I get concerned when I hear the sentiments being raised about education to the point where it seems as if nobody of intelligence graduated until now, I get concerned when the sentiments expressed that there were no standards until now,” said Hon Fahie as he acknowledged the fact that education is something that has to continue to evolve and has to be continually be improved.
“I disagree with the sixth form being in the secondary school,” he said; a statement which was greeted with loud rounds of applause. He insisted that it is not that he does not agree with the extra year but rather with where it is going to be placed.
He recalled that it was said during one of the sittings of the House of Assembly that adding the 6th year at the secondary level would be cost effective. “Cost effectiveness vs what is right cannot be the order of the day,” said Hon Fahie. He suggested that the technical school currently being done in Baugher’s Bay should have been the first junior high school in the Virgin Islands.
“You cannot bend a tree when it is done a big tree,” he said. “Putting it in now (a 6th year) is going to frustrate the students,” he said.
He also noted his total disapproval of the system of having five Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) subjects for a child to get a national scholarship. “I want to say this clearly, CXC is something that I endorse….”
He also endorsed some of the current improvements but said that they need to be seriously and carefully looked at. “The sixth form could have worked years ago when they were coming from the primary school stronger but now that they are not so strong coming out. From [the time the children are small] we need to tackle where the problem is and money shouldn’t be a problem because if PriceWaterHouseCoopers could get a million and change, we could give two million to the primary school children to get them stronger,” said Hon Fahie.
.png)
.png)
.png)
_(1)_01.png)
.png)
Follow Us On
15 Responses to “‘Education Infrastructure needs a lot of work’ – VG Parent”
Then there is the matter of the "community". There are some people who have never had a fair education to teach their children, let alone themselves. Has the government ever considered an 'Adult Education System' to help those in communities - if there isn't one as yet? What about the library - how much time is spent there.... the website has enormous amounts of online Maths, English and ICT worksheets, books, tests etc., we must utilise them - if we are not doing so already.
We are not to blame each other, but do our part (if not already doing so) and help make our children, young people, parents, communities to strive and help the BVI become the best that it can be.
I do take the point also of teachers continuing their professional development in getting further training!
Not everyone will agree with what I've said but I've made my point. Hopefully.
Additionally many of the parents are not fully vested in idea that education is the future for their children and many of the naysayers have failed themselves and see no point in their children doing any better. Hence, there is no concentrated and determined effort to develop early education in the home, reading programs and homework review.
While early education needs retooling, the secondary educational system is in dire need of a complete overhaul.
Too many high school students require remedial courses before they can successfully navigate Associate level courses, or properly assimilate into the workforce.
backward government of the BVI along with mw only reason for existence is to try for another term. Lard!!...