BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JULY 14TH 2005 - Dutch St. Maartens Leader of Government and Commissioner of Education, the Hon. Sarah Wescott-Williams is in the Federation to look at the education system in St. Kitts and Nevis.
The main purpose of the visit is to gather first hand information for the creation of the best suited Ministry of Education for St. Maarten following a successful separation from the Netherlands Antilles, in which it is a part of with Saba, St. Eustatius, Curacao and Bonaire.
A five-member team from the Dutch Windward Island is holding discussions Thursday morning with officials in the Ministry of Education, Youth, Social and Community Development and Gender Affairs in an effort to fashion the best suited Ministry of Education for St. Maarten.
The local officials will give an overview of the Education System; the St. Christopher and Nevis (Education) Act 2005 and Special Committees in the Federations Education System.
Courtesy calls on St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, the Hon. Sam Condor are slated for late Thursday morning and a visit to the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College will take place in the afternoon.
The Team, which arrived here on Wednesday visited the Pre-School at the C.A. Paul Southwell Industrial Site and discussed the Federations Early Childhood Education Programme and attended the Graduation Ceremony of the Advanced Vocational Education Centre (AVEC) at the Basseterre High School Auditorium.
On Friday the St. Maarten delegation will meet with the Examinations Officer/Local Registrar in the Ministry of Education, officials of the Student Education Learning Fund (SELF); the Projects Management Unit (PMU), visit the recently opened International School of Nursing, the Special Education Unit and the Curriculum Development Unit.
Last January, Commissioner Wescott-Williams wrote Prime Minister Douglas seeking his support for the fact-finding visit.
The response from the Prime Minister was both swift and positive and representatives of both islands began planning the visit, said a statement from the Commissioners Office in Philipsburg, St. Maarten.
Other members of the St. Maarten delegation are St. Kitts-born Head of the Innovations Bureau, Mrs. Patricia Lourens, daughter of the late Major St. Clair Phillip and Mrs. Veronica Phillip; Innovation Bureau representative, Mr. Quincy Harrigan; Head of the Welfare Sector, Mr. Stanley Hodge and Interim Head of the St. Maarten Department of Education, Miss Claudette Forsythe.
