Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 18, 2014 (SKNIS) -- Over 700 students graduating from 12 secondary schools, private and public, as well as continuing students at post-secondary educational institutions in St. Kitts and Nevis are set to benefit from the recently launched REACH programme – Recognising Everyone’s Ability to Climb Higher.
The initiative, which is was a collaborative effort between Government and the Sugar Industry Diversification (SIDF), is geared towards boosting post-secondary education and training across the entire Federation.
According to Minister of Education the Hon. Nigel Carty, the REACH programme, through the provision of two-year scholarships and grant financing, creates opportunities for students in the Federation leaving Secondary School to easily pursue higher academic learning and certified technical and vocational training. He added that the programme helps graduates from post-secondary institutions, who are seeking employment, pursue short-term professional life and work skills training. Minister Carty stated that this is “critically important for the development of a competitive and efficient workforce.”
“Never again will a parent’s inability to finance an education at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC), the Nevis Sixth Form College, the Advanced Vocational Education Center (AVEC), or any other post-secondary training programme in St. Kitts and Nevis, limit their children’s chances of pursuing higher education and acquiring skills that prepare them for the world of work,” stated the Minister.
The Education Minister stated that as a tribute to the outstanding achievements of students in the 2014 CXC examinations, which will be announced in a separate report, and the examinations in recent years, at O’Level and at CAPE, the programme will be implemented in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis at the start of the new academic year, September 2014.
“I therefore announce further that as of September 2014, every high school student enrolling in the CFBC or the Nevis Sixth Form College will be provided with a basic yearly academic allowance in the amount of EC$2,500 to assist them in meeting their financial obligations associated with post-secondary education,” he stated. “To go further to encourage students to strive for excellence and to raise the bar with respect to minimum qualification among our young people in St. Kitts and Nevis, the government has decided to award an additional EC$250 to the student for every CXC/CSEC subject passed above five to eight subjects passes, and further, an additional EC$100 for every subject pass above eight subjects passes.”
In addition, students graduating from Form Five at High School and who are enrolling at AVEC to pursue the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) programme will be provided a grant in the amount of EC$2,000 per academic year to assist them in their pursuit. Students transferring from AVEC to the CFBC under REACH will also be given the same assistance.
Students who enroll at the college to study any two of the following subjects - Math, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Foreign Languages - will receive an additional EC$1000 per year as a special incentive for pursuing these subjects.
Students who graduate from Fifth Form, AVEC, CFBC or the Nevis Sixth Form College and intend to seek employment in that same year, are entitled to an award in the amount of EC$1,400 per month to enroll in a three-month Professional Training programme.
A number of meetings will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, August 19 and 20, to share more information and advice on the REACH programme.
Meeting times:
Tuesday, August 19 at 10 a.m. – meeting in St. Kitts with 2014 school-leavers who are seeking employment.
Tuesday, August 19 at 5 p.m. – meeting with students (and their parents) in St. Kitts
Wednesday, August 20 at 5 p.m. – meeting with AVEC students and their parents in St. Kitts
Wednesday, August 20 at 10 a.m. – meeting in Nevis with 2014 school-leavers seeking employment.
Wednesday, August 20 at 5 p.m. – meeting with Nevis Sixth Form College students (and parents) in Nevis.
The venue for all meetings in St. Kitts is the Wesley Methodist Church Hall, Seaton Street, Basseterre and Nevis, the St. Paul’s Anglican Church Hall, Main Street, Charlestown.
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