BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, Dec. 29.17 – THE Government of National Unity, in its bid to continue to assist students who were affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, would be paying the examination fees for fifth form students who are in St. Kitts and Nevis.
That announcement was made recently by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Vincent Hodge.
At a recently held CXC press conference at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort, Hodge explained that to his knowledge the number of students who were registered in the local education system stood in the 80’s.
He stated that the number spread across all facets of the education sphere.
“As was said in different forums, the Ministry of education is offering the assistance to all of these persons who have been displaced by the advent of the hurricanes. So, we pay for their examinations, yet their results would not be reflected in terms of the St. Kitts-Nevis CSEC results but from their home territories.
“We have provided textbooks through the SAFE programme, and through community affairs we have given assistance in terms of uniforms. So, whatever opportunities are given to our students, the same opportunities are given to those students who are from the other islands and have been displaced…”
According to the PS, there is one individual from Dominica who is registered at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College who would also see his examination fees paid for by the St. Kitts and Nevis Government.
“He is coming from the Dominica State College, and we would offer the same thing. He would be writing CAPE Exams,” Hodge said.
Reports published had noted that some of these students are expected to return to their homeland after their respective islands return to a semblance of order, but Hodge told SKNVibes that they had urged those students to stay for the entire year or up until their examinations are completed.
“The principals here are encouraging them to stay the year,” he stated, noting that it would be stressful if they leave one school environment to attend another shortly before examination.
The possibility exists that they would miss critical information in the curriculum should they return and it is not taught.
PS Hodge revealed that the Caribbean Examination Council has given an extended deadline of around June or July for submission of all School Based Assessments.
St. Kitts and Nevis, like many other islands in the region had extended a hand of courtesy to assist those islands that were affected by the two category storms, including Dominica.
The government offered to house and provide educational opportunities to those displaced students.
