BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – PRESIDENT of the St. Kitts-Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CIC) Mark Wilkin has described the organisation’s Second Luncheon Meeting as “very productive” as the body discussed the White Paper on Education Development & Policy: 2009 – 2019.
Upon leaving the quarterly meeting today (May 13), Wilkin told SKNVibes that the discussion was interesting as representatives from the Ministry of Education highlighted all the areas of the White Paper. He added that members of the Chamber got the opportunity to make recommendations on behalf of the business community as the policy paper takes shape before being passed.
“The discussions were very productive. We now have a better understanding of what is documented in the White Paper and we will certainly make recommendations as a body. In fact, we have a committee put in place to review it and we expect further discussions from full membership,” Wilkin said.
He stressed that it is critical for the CIC to have an input in the development of education policies, adding that the management and operation of the education is vital to any society especially as it relates to maintaining a high quality of individuals entering the workforce. He stated that a properly revised education policy is necessary to discourage any inclination to gang cultures by upcoming students.
Minister of Education Hon. Sam Condor, along with Chief Education Officer Dr. Patrick Welcome, Permanent Secretary Osmond Petty and Education Planner Quinton Morton made detailed presentations on the White Paper.
The White Paper addresses the government’s general agenda for education reform and development in the Federation; strategies and priorities for the development of education at the early childhood, primary, secondary, post-secondary, and tertiary levels and provisions for Special Needs Education.
The document also covers issues relating to the establishment of the St. Kitts and Nevis Accreditation Board; imperatives for strategic alliances between parents, teachers, and education administrators in education programmes; and the role of the private sector in the design of curriculum, learning processes, and education administration.
