|
September 7, 2007
After months of preparation and intensive research, the Task Force instituted by the Island Government of Saba to draft an Education Policy for the island, is preparing to host a symposium for stakeholders in education. The Task Force includes members from all schools and daycare center, the Department of Education, NGOs and the Innovations Bureau. Members spearhead broad areas that will form the nucleus of the draft Education Policy for the Island Territory of Saba. The focus areas represented by the various Task Force members are as follows: Structure of Education and Training in Saba, Mr. Franklin Wilson; The Early Years - The Pre-school years, Mr. Dave Levenstone; Primary and Secondary Education, Mrs. Diane Wilson; Post Secondary / Vocational Education, Mr. Jonathan Johnson; Employment and Life Long Education and Training, Mr. Carl Buncamper; International Links, Mr. Roy Smith; Special Education, Ms. Jet van Heijnsbergen; and Parent Community Interaction, Mrs. Elka Charles. In addition to these members spearheading the mentioned areas of focus for the draft Education Policy, the Task Force members Dr. Samuel Belmar and Mr. Delroy Sinclair are responsible for the processing, tabulating and analysis of data collected. Ms. Coney Clement completes the Task Force Team as the secretary.
Past and present administrations on Saba --- and by extension stakeholders in education on the island were becoming increasingly concerned over the years for want of a clear cut policy, guidelines with a vision and mission, in order to chart the educational future of the island.
Drafting an Education Policy for the island of Saba is paramount, as the island is preparing itself for constitutional reforms in the very near future. This document will form the basis for reforms in education over a ten year period.
USONA readily granted funding through the education projects when the Innovations Bureau started the initiative for this exercise.
Dr. Lennox Bernard, Resident/Head of Continuing Studies at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago, who is familiar with the educational structure on the island, was contracted to guide and supervise the activities carried out by the Task Force.
Over the last few months work has progressed steadily and a summary report with options and recommendations is expected to be available for the general public shortly. A symposium is being planned during the month of October to afford government as well as other stakeholders the opportunity to critique the findings in this document. The findings are expected to generate broad based discussions within the community, which will also be incorporated into the final draft.
The Task Force will prepare a survey that will be administered during parent-teacher meetings during the month of September at the primary and secondary schools, and the daycare center on the island to ensure the broad participation of the parents on the island.
Photo:
Click here for a larger version of the photo.
 Back to community news page.
|
){kind=link}