Begin this new school year with renewed vigour, eagerness

Back to School Message

by Hon Girlyn Miguel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education

As we prepare for the new academic year, I wish to welcome back to the classroom heads of educational institutions, our students, teachers, and all support staff. I hope everyone had a wonderful summer break, with time to relax and to have fun. I now urge you to begin this new school year with renewed vigour and eagerness.{{more}}

I would like to commend the efforts of all stakeholders in education, the cleaning staff, the parents, BRAGSA and staff, heads of schools, who have worked hard in ensuring the smooth preparation for the opening of the schools this year.

A warm welcome is extended to our kindergarten pupils, who will be experiencing the formal primary school system for the first time. This is a process which will open a new world of creativity and possibilities for them. However, for many of them this is also a period of anxiety. I am therefore urging all teachers, parents and older students to do everything in your power to minimize their anxiety by helping them to feel safe and secure. Teachers, please be mindful that all students are going to look to you for guidance and motivation, so be sensitive and alert to their needs.

I urge those of you who gained places in the secondary schools, especially those who gained entry because of the policy of Universal Secondary Education, to understand and appreciate that this is a very important term for you. Your performance this term will indicate to your parents and teachers the extent to which you have made use of the opportunity given to you for a secondary education. Stay focused, work hard, resist any temptation to waste time in class and recognize that this period of your life is for you to dedicate yourselves to serious and consistent school.

The Ministry of Education celebrates with our schools, the director and staff of St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College, principals, teachers, students and parents. The achievement of our young people at the national and regional levels is commendable. As we move forward, however, let us all work together and put all measures in place to improve the overall quality of our passes.

Students, we embrace your success; teachers, parents, we recognize your hard work and we look forward to greater things in the future, because the Government of this country is committed to attaining high levels of sustainable growth and development in every area of endeavour. And while we celebrate our achievement, let me point out that we DO NOT condone disrespect, ill discipline and laxity in our citizens.

Principals, teachers, I implore you to be professional every step of the way; ensure that ALL students in your care are afforded the appropriate experiences needed to perform at their maximum.

Parents, guardians, you too must play your part. It is your responsibility to be supportive of your children, to guide and protect them, to love them with appropriate boundaries, to channel their energies along the proper and positive path of life.

I implore you to dialogue with your children’s teachers, support school functions and help to create that caring, positive school climate. Teachers cannot do it alone. We can only achieve our objectives by working collaboratively and building partnerships among home, school and the wider community.

I am aware that a number of our teachers are struggling with serious health issues. We lift them up in prayer and wish for their full recovery. Cognizant of the fact that teaching can be mentally, emotionally and physically challenging, I urge each one to pay careful attention to his/her health.

In an effort to reduce student truancy, to ensure safety and to ultimately raise achievement, we will (from this year) be engaging the services of a “School Attendance Officer”, whose main responsibility would be that of enforcing compulsory school attendance in relation to children of compulsory school age.

Overall, we must be reminded that we need the entire community, the bus drivers, the vendors, the cleaners, the secretaries, all responsible citizens to help our students to achieve their potential. It is still our collective responsibility to raise a child.

I wish for us a productive school year. Let us together build a nation that we will all be proud of, as we continue to focus on quality education for all at the varying levels.