Begin this new school year with renewed vigour, eagerness

MESSAGE BY HON GIRLYN MIGUEL, MINISTER OF EDUCATION

FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2015/2016

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, have fun. I now urge you to begin this school year with renewed vigour and eagerness.{{more}}

I would like to commend the efforts of all the stakeholders, 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 classroom 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 their power to minimize anxiety, by helping our young ones 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 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 and resist any temptation to waste time in class and recognize this as a period of your life to dedicate yourselves to serious and consistent school work.

The Ministry of Education celebrates with our schools, the director and staff of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College, principals, teachers, students and parents. The achievement of our young people at the national and regional level is commendable. As we move forward, however, let us work together, 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.

We, at the Ministry of Education, salute the teachers and principals who are currently on pre-retirement leave. We recognize the contribution given by all over the years and we say thank you for your meaningful and dedicated service.

In an effort to reduce student truancy, ensure safety and ultimately raise achievement, we will, from this year be engaging the services of a “school attendance officer”, whose main responsibility is that of enforcing compulsory school attendance in respect of 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.