Roadtown, Tortola - Moving from “good to great” continues to be the motto of motivation for the staff at the Ministry of Education and Culture, its departments and units.
Yesterday senior officers and department heads gathered at the Long Bay Beach Hotel conference room for an all-day planning session to review the 2009 work plan and the methods to achieve the desired objectives. The session was guided by the theme, “Partnering in hard economic times today to accomplish greatness for tomorrow.”
Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Andrew Fahie, speaking at the session, said the theme reflects Government‘s commitment to delivering quality education, molding youth, improving sports, recreation and entertainment and preserving the arts, culture and heritage of the people in the Virgin Islands.
“It is important and necessary for us to meet now because we need to see how our initiatives are doing in the midst of financial challenges,” Hon. Fahie said. He added that the session will ensure that the ministry and departments are in sync with Government’s overall mission.
Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Education and Culture Mrs. Shelia Brathwaite explained that an alarming amount of work has been initiated, generated and produced within the ministry and each department has a high level of responsibility to complement the policies, programmes and activities.
“As officers we must be frugal, versatile, project focused, children focused, youth at risk focused, compassionate but firm and to seek ways to reduce costs while achieving good quality work,” Mrs. Brathwaite said.
Officers responded by pledging their continued commitment to the achievement of the work plan.
The meeting commenced at 9:30 a.m. with a motivational session led by Pastor Howard Simon of the BVI Seventh Day Adventist Church. He told officers that in order to get from “good to great” they must look at the difference between success and failure by taking on excellent attitudes and team spirit.
“Having teachable, thankful and thoughtful attitudes are components critical to the realisation and productivity of your work plan,” Pastor Simon said, adding that officers should “work together and never apart.”
The 2009 work plan is an excerpt from the ministry’s strategic plan for the period of 2008-2011. The strategic plan seeks to ensure that the ministry’s areas of responsibility achieve the highest possible standards so that the people and Territory are competitive globally. The plan covers education from early childhood to secondary level, rehabilitation of incarcerated individuals, automated library services, youth and sports programmes, and building pride in the Territory’s cultural heritage.
There are five departments under the Ministry of Education and Culture including Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, Library Services, Prison and Culture. The two units are the National Curriculum Redesign Project and the local arm of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
British Virgin Islands News