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| 2005 graduates of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, NOVEMBER 24TH 2005 - Not enough eligible secondary school leavers are accessing the full time and part time degree programmes at the Clarence Fitzroy College (CFBC).
Principal Dr. Hermia Morton-Anthony said that while statistics show a trend of more male than female faculty and staff at the CFBC, the student composition however shows a different picture, especially among males.
"There is a 2:1 ratio of female to male students accessing tertiary education and graduating from the full-time programmes at CFBC. The ratio of males to females in the Division of Adult and Continuing Education is especially despairing. Whereas in the year under review, 36 percent of the students registered in the full-time programmes were male, in the part-time programmes only 22 percent were males," said Dr. Morton-Anthony, who pointed out that the 2005 CFBC Graduating Class at the 17th Commencement Exercises comprised 66 males and 161 females.
The figures do not include secondary school leavers who access the various first and second year programmes offered at the University of the West Indies School of Continuing Education or those who pursue tertiary education at colleges and universities overseas.
Dr. Morton-Anthony also expressed concern over the number of males accessing tertiary education both in the full and part-time programmes.
"This is cause for concern. Even the most tenacious feminists among us would want to see our sons compete successfully and obtain a tertiary education. We must identify the major point of fall off and fall through for them, in St. Kitts and Nevis, and implement proven mechanisms to prevent the haemorrhage of talent and intellectual capital of our men and boys, away from tertiary education," said the CFBC Principal, who called for the elimination of the "systemic practices of gender discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace that discourages and impede the progress and employment of women in the workplace."
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| 2005 graduates of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) |
"The revolution of crass and "watch no face" coupled with the culture of slackness and vulgarity threatens to obliterate the distinction between assertiveness and impropriety especially among our women and girls. We cannot afford to allow a reversal of the significant gains made by women and girls in academia by becoming involved in behaviours that would compromise our potential for success or obtain employment at levels that are comparative with our academic achievement. We must not become complicit with the very practices that consolidate existing strikes against us," Dr. Hermia Morton-Anthony warned.
She further called for the removal of "all obstacles to gender equity and achievement by merit for our peaceful and productive coexistence."
"In our peaceful Caribbean where our men are not dying in state sanctioned wars and our women efficiently head households, we need the full participation of all in society to maintain a powerful position in the region and the world," said the CFBC Principal, who pointed to the constant reminder "that the world market is knowledge-based (and) it is therefore the country and people imbued with knowledge who would have the competitive-edge."
"Our greatest resource is our people, male and female, we have a small population to fill the numerous opportunities for employment in the local and regional economy, we therefore need to build the capacity in every citizen for therein lies our competitive edge as a small island developing state," said Morton-Anthony to the large audience which included the graduants, students, parents and officials.
The Commencement Ceremony was held under the distinguished patronage of His Excellency the Governor General, Dr. Sir Cuthbert Sebastian.
