Owners of Early Childhood Education centres on the island are due to return to classes with an allocation of $2,500 respectively, as a “start-up” for the new school term.
Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Sustainable Development Dr. Pauline Antoine-Prospere informed that ministry officials recently met with the owners of these institutions at a ceremony in Dennery where the cheques were presented to them.
She noted that post the Covid-19 pandemic, several of these institutions experienced difficulties meeting their financial obligations, including payment of rentals and staffers.
Dr. Antoine-Prospere said though some parliamentary representatives reached out to those persons within their respective constituencies, Prime Minister Philip J Pierre felt it prudent to provide “some relief” to these centres.
“We have made Early Childhood (learning) a priority …and since the government caters for government-owned centres, this is a ‘one-shot’ payment of $2,500 and it was well received by the early childhood centres,” she told reporters at a media briefing, on Monday.
Additionally, commenting on the application of the Technical, Vocational, and Educational Training (TVET) programme, Dr. Antoine-Prospere emphasized that it requires taking a “holistic approach” to that aspect.
She explained that work is ongoing to promote the TVET schools. “We are aware that there will be (some) stigma attached to some schools because of their performances (academically), but we are trying our best to ensure that the parents embrace and understand the concept,” the ministry official stated.
Dr. Antoine-Prospere observed that there are still some misconceptions about the TVET format, indicating that this learning technique applies to only students at the lower scale of academic development.
However, she said, research has proven that some of the “very best students can do as well in TVET,” as in other academic subjects.
“So, we have to sell out that concept …and we have to throw away that misconception that TVET is for children who are not academically inclined and allow our children to benefit from it,” Dr. Antoine-Prospere declared.
She noted that with the new trends in science and technology, there is a wider scope to earn livelihoods in selected fields such as electrical engineering and other areas.
Notably, two years ago, the government announced that four secondary schools in Saint Lucia would be transformed into technical institutes. The Piaye, Anse Ger, Grand Riviere, and John Odlum secondary schools now focus on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
Minister for Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology, and Vocational Training, Shawn Edward said this investment in skills development will benefit students and the country. He noted that students learn differently and the government intends “to meet them at their respective levels.”
Minister Edward added that “the one-size-fits-all approach to educating our young people must not be allowed to continue for much longer. We must recognize their talents and passions and create spaces, centres of vocational excellence where they can have the opportunity to chase and recognize (fulfill) their dreams.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Antoine-Prospere states that though initially there are some issues to deal with, brought on by “skepticism, and people are not willing …it is something that we have to sell.”
Presently, she said, the classes at the TVET centres are not big “but we are hopeful that as time goes on …we are going to get many more students that will opt for (to attend) the technical and vocational schools.
“We are trying to show them the equipment available at the schools, so we (will) have more students … opting for technical, and vocational education (training), Dr. Antoine- Prospere asserted.