Hon Walwyn responds to ‘scholarship class system’ with reminder on STF
Mr Smith was at the time a panelist on the VIP radio show ‘Let’s talk’ on ZBVI 780 AM on February 4, 2015
How is the NDP building a class system?
The Youth Master told the public in an opening statement on the show that he “rejects the notion of a class system whereby some are left behind like the NDP has continued to do.”
Mr Smith, who earlier this year announced his intention to seek the VIP nomination through its Congress to run as a Territorial candidate, said his VIP believes while there must be criteria for government scholarships being paid for by the tax payers the new policy of the Minister for Education Myron V. Walwyn, where one has to have at least five CXC subjects in order to qualify for a government scholarship, is wrong and a misguided policy.
“I know many persons my age group who did not have 5 CXCs, however, were able to obtain a scholarship under the VIP Government and today they are success stories all over the Virgin Islands,” said Mr Smith.
Walwyn responds with statement
In his response to Mr Smith, Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn,
at the Third Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Second House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands held on Thursday, February 12, 2015 said in effect there is an alternative to his policy through the Scholarship Trust Fund Board Loans.
Minister Walwyn told the House of Assembly (HoA) that “Madame Speaker,….Government grants a certain number of scholarships every year but recognises that it is impossible to meet all the funding needs of every single person in the Territory, and hence the need for the Scholarship Loan Fund”.
He stopped short of giving the public the criteria to obtain a loan from the funds.
Another VIP programme
This Scholarship Trust Fund (STF), which was started since 2008 under the VIP, entails an agreement with the Caribbean Development Bank where $5M was obtained to set up a revolving loan scheme to assist Virgin Islanders seeking to obtain an education at the tertiary level.
The Minister admitted in his statement that “previous Administrations placed a very high premium on the education of our people”.
The controversial Walwyn told the HoA that “since 2011, the Scholarship Trust Fund Board has invested in 102 persons for study in various fields and committed funds of over USD $2.7 M from the loan fund. This success came about as a result of the collaboration between the Ministry of Education and Culture, National Bank of the Virgin Islands, Caribbean Development Bank and the Board appointed to administer the fund.”
Public Relations needed
The first time Minister stated that “the loan fund is under-utilised and the Board has recognised the need for more marketing to get the word out regarding the availability of additional funding. They have been working relentlessly to get the word out to the population on the availability of this fund and have met some success,” Walwyn said.
The Minister told the people that “I would like to urge persons in the community to make use of this loan programme in realising their pursuits. This is an important source of funding for tertiary level education as we all work together in the pursuit to create a culture of excellence and place and even higher value on the opportunities that a well-educated society can provide for all in our community.”
Walwyn done nothing for education-critics
Many of Hon Walwyn’s critics have said he has done little or nothing for the past three years for education and the youths and has politicalised the education system from hiring of teachers and principals, to which students get into which schools and even who is allowed as vendors at the public schools.
They have also accused him for the past three years of ignoring the sister islands’ schools, especially Anegada and Jost van Dyke.
Closing opportunities for youth
Youth Master Smith lambasted the NDP a few weeks ago, again on the same radio show, for what he described as “closing opportunities for Virgin Islanders and not opening it, as the VIP believes in doing”.
The youth leader stated that “the VIP will strive to make our young people independent by giving them a hand up and not a handout!”
39 Responses to “Hon Walwyn responds to ‘scholarship class system’ with reminder on STF”
They have also accused him for the past three years of ignoring the sister islands’ schools, especially Anegada and Jost van Dyke.
When statements like these are made knowing the facts out there, it's hard to take these stories seriously. Love or hate the man, but to say he has done little or nothing in Education, come on.
I am not trying to be funny, but he must have done something, if these accolades are attributed to him.
It just that I am not aware of them.
Hon Walwyn, win lose or draw you are doing a great job and this statement is not politically motivated just straight up fact
My son and I went to universities in Georgia and Thoth universities asked for 5 CXCs.