UNICEF Representative urges Federation to set higher educational standards
By Melissa Bryant
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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UNICEF Representative Tom Olsen
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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – UNITED NATIONS CHILD’S FUND (UNICEF) Representative for the Eastern Caribbean and Barbados Tom Olsen said that in order for St. Kitts and Nevis to go forward as a nation, the quality of education that is provided must be of a higher standard.
This remark and others were made during his feature address at the opening ceremony of the National Education Consultation on the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Policy at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino on Tuesday, November 4.
Olsen stated that “if you want to build a future you must start with education and with ECD”.
“We cannot and will not ignore it anymore. It is always easy when there is a financial crisis to cut education; it’s one of the first things cut whenever there are economic cutback. This is short-sighted, not longsighted vision.
“Unfortunately, one can only see the full benefits of education when they have graduated. But unless we reinvest in education and ECD, there will not be economic or sustainable growth. There cannot be development unless we focus on human resources and the quality of education, beginning with ECD,” said Olsen.
He further remarked that standards should be set in education and ECD by ensuring teachers are trained and educated, as they are “the keys to development whose influence will be felt for years”. ~~Adz:Right~~
“A good teacher separates the difference from being educated and being graduated. Being graduated is just having a degree. Educated is having academic knowledge plus life skills; that is, how you interact with others, how you contribute to nation building, your self-esteem, communication skills and teamwork skills, etcetera,” declared Olsen.
He added that children must be put in the centre of development and that his vision is to have an education system that takes into consideration human development and caters for all.
“We must have a system that caters for all; not just the best and brightest but also for those who are slower intellectually or who may need specific help. If such a system is not designed, then we have all failed,” Olsen concluded.
