(Copy of Radio Address by
Hensley E Daniel, Vice President of the Nevis Reformation Party)
I must congratulate the students, teachers and parents for the successes in the overseas examinations. As the new school year starts we note that the government here is searching for teachers of Science and Mathematics to complete the requirements for the students. This is strange for a government that on page 4 of its manifesto of 2001, wrote that human resource development will become a priority. The government has spent all of its money on concrete and steel.
The same government in 1997 said on its platform for the February local elections that education is not important, just love your country. Sadly, many persons believed. Today we are reaping the negative results of such a misleading approach to development.
It has to be difficult for teachers who only got a 10% increase last year but the Nevis Ministers of Government have taken a 30% increase without any advice from a Commission as was done in St. Kitts.
It is not easy for the teachers who have to face all the challenges of the job to give of their best when there is such a downgrading of their professions. Public servants who are not liked by the government have been sent to teach as punishment Ask Steven Manners.
There is a little piece of road being done from Camps to Fountain Ghaut. I have been told by a CCM Big Wig that this ONE mile road will cost Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00). I will have to see the complete details to believe that one mile of road can cost TEN MILLION DOALLRS. Can we afford this? Why is a contractor only given one mile of road? Is it that money is needed to bring home people to vote so the road will give kick backs? The companies collecting these bits and pieces of road must make their details of the contract public since the government is not expected to tell the people the whole truth.
We still have no public statement yet on
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The US $300,000.00 sent to Jamaica
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The US $1.4 million loan to Nevis Express
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The cost of the road repairs form Camps to Market Shop.
With no explanation, there is cost over run and quality under-run in the public projects. There is little money left for education. In addition education is not a priority of the CCM government. Schools are run down. Dirt has been spread at prospect School just a few weeks before the re-opening of school. A computer lab had been built at Brown Pasture for the students of St Johns Primary but work is to begin shortly on a new school at the Flats. What kind of mad planning is going on.
The Nevis Reformation Party says that its first priority is Education; its second priority is Education and its third priority is Education.
We urge the people of Nevis to vote for us as we shall do the following in Education:
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Create a Separate teaching Body for teacher to be called the teaching Service with its own Commission.
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The NRP Government will buy all textbooks for the primary and secondary school students. This was the case in the 1970s when I was in high school. Parents will no longer have to spend $500.00 to $600.00 on textbooks.
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A National Training Board will be established.
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The Establishment of a College of Further Education will be established to award scholarships. Preference will be given to teachers in the award of scholarships. The government will sponsor education for at least ten students every year. The College of Further Education will house The Sixth Form, The UWI Distance Education Programme, a technical Education Unit and Students pursuing Olevel and Alevel courses who have left work.
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Every student pursuing University Education will be given at least 50% financial assistance by the NRP Government. Every student will be helped.
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School Lunches will be provided for all Primary School Students.
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25 Primary School scholarships for the top students grades 3-6 will be provided each year to create Centers of Excellence.
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The Establishment of a National Science Council to spur interest in Science and technology. This will become a center of Excellence.
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The establishment of standards for teachers. Monitoring and Evaluation will become part and parcel of the new standards.
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Incentives for teachers who excel will be provided.
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Special Funding for Technical education.
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Development of School Librarians.
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Purchase of a Book Mobile to facilitate a Mobile Library Service.
Just in case you are wondering where the money will come from, we will cut waste and reduce expenses. The cost of the Premiers travels over the last five years could have paid for the education of our young people.
Help is on the way for education. Vote NRP! Vote NRP for a more educated society. Vote NRP to promote the education of todays young. We are available to discuss these issues with the public. Education must provide the skills that can be sold on the labour market. Educations is the means by which we equip todays generation for tomorrows possibilities.
