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“We are ready to move to that next level and so ABC is coming on-stream to take us to that next level,” said Leroy Richards, Caribbean Director of GFA, at the handing over ceremony on Wednesday evening at the ITI building. Photo SKNVIbes.com |
The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis’s education system will soon receive an added boost when Global Financial Association (GFA) through its subsidiary company, International Technological Institute (ITI) introduces ABC Learning Center to our shores.
“We are ready to move to that next level and so ABC is coming on-stream to take us to that next level,” said Leroy Richards, Caribbean Director of GFA, at a handing over ceremony on Wednesday evening, October 5, at the ITI building, just outside the skirts of Basseterre.
He said that ITI aims to attract, enroll and graduate quality students through its Education program ABC, which he said means; accounting trading, business administration and computer science.
While giving a general overview of the project, Richards said that the program would be completed in two phases. In the first phase, a portion of land situated next to the Eastern Benevolent Society (EBS) Funeral home was purchased with a structure there already where renovations were made.
The second phase will be the construction of a four-floor structure and the upgrading of the school to university standards.
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Chairman of GFA and Pastor of the 1st Baptist Church Marshal Heights in the United States of America, Dr. Leman D. Bates, who represented GFA at the ceremony offered apologies during his speech. Photo by SKNVIbes.com |
Richards explained that ITI is offering classes to students and adults in the areas such as Computer Science, Accounting, Information Technology and Adult Education. Along with classes on preparation for Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SAT), which are required for entry into International Schools, GED, which is equivalent to a high school diploma and remedial education to persons, students and adults alike, who are out of school but need to know the basics.
When asked why GFA through ITI decided to construct such a facility Richards said, “Through research, we discovered that there was a recognizable need for services and opportunities such as this.”
The ceremony, which was originally held to facilitate the handing over of several computers from GFA to ITI was attended by students of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, representatives of GFA, ITI and a representative from the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis in the form of the Deputy Prime Minister, Sam Condor.
Chairman of GFA and Pastor of the 1st Baptist Church Marshal Heights in the United States of America, Dr. Leman D. Bates, who represented GFA at the ceremony offered apologies during his speech.
According to Dr. Bates the computers have been shipped from the USA and are currently on their way to the Federation. “It seems we have beat the computers down here,” said Dr. Bates. “They have not arrived on the island as yet.”
Dr. Bates explained that the computers should arrive on island within the next 30 days. Meanwhile Minister Condor in remarks at the ceremony informed the group that ITI has the full support and co-operation of the Government.
Minister Condor noted that with the current down fall of King Sugar and the islands’ move
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Judith DuPont, a student of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, cut the red ribbon signifying the official opening of the ITI Facility, while Sam Condor assists. Photo by SKNVibes.com |
into the service industry economy, “which includes Information Technology, Computer Science and Communication, this outfit here, would add to that.”
“The program is for students and adults but more so for adults. We want to make sure that our adults get involved. We would be producing minds, … bridging the digital divide … which is what the third world is trying to do,” said Condor.
At the close of the ceremony a student of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, Judith DuPont cut the red ribbon signifying the official opening of the ITI Facility.
