TCI: Integrated school concept coming, EU support of Long Bay Primary an historic project for Ministry of Education

#Providenciales, April 5, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – Schools, and the education provided at them, offer to learners’ incalculable opportunities; in the Turks and Caicos Islands, European Union support of €15.72 million euros is committed in a partnership with the Ministry of Education to bolster the system and create greater access to different kinds of students.

“Education is hugely important yet that is where people can become divided between those who can afford a good education, between those who can afford exams for example and those who cannot and it is very unfair and it goes against the human rights of equality, if people get divided at that stage.”

A report revealed that the Turks and Caicos public school system is in dire need of more student spaces. The new Long Bay Primary school is projected to bring tremendous ease and Ambassador H.E. Malgorzata Wasilewska, Head of the EU Delegation to Jamaica was in Providenciales on March 29, to join TCI Officials for an official cornerstone laying ceremony at the school site.

“Our program is focusing on better access to education, better standards of education as well as vocational and technical training,” said the Ambassador during a one on one interview with Magnetic Media.

The Ambassador admitted to being aware of the challenges which had arisen over the location of the school, which is within a residential community in the east of Providenciales, but is comforted that the project is progressing to alleviate overcrowding, among other things.

“We are here to inaugurate the building of a primary school in Long Bay… the work has already started and we are very proud to be here for this occasion and one of the things that I am particularly happy about is that it will give access to good education to children coming from different backgrounds and very importantly, it will be a school that will have access for disabled children.”

The Ambassador is passionate about the concept of integrated schools; different children of different backgrounds and different capabilities combined in a learning environment which caters to them all, simultaneously.

“There are not enough integrated schools here that would give a space in the classroom to children who are healthy, disabled children as well as children with mental health issues; and you cannot have healthy societies and healthy communities unless there is acceptance and good interaction between everybody.”

In February, the Minister of Education informed the public that the school would have six infant rooms and would be linked with internal doors and bathrooms within the classroom blocks.

“There will be two playgrounds, science labs, art & craft room, modern library, media center, computer lab, a sound-proof music room, two special needs classrooms equipped with specialty equipment, a cafeteria, a stage for performing arts, ICT infrastructure and a multi-purpose room and auditorium able to accommodate the entire student population,” said Hon Karen Malcolm, Minister of Education, Youth, Culture & Library Services.

The school construction is put at $5 million dollars and will feature 30 classrooms and is designed to cater to 550 students.

The Ambassador said: “If you provide a good space for the interaction for children at school, very often they are the ones who change the attitudes of the family and teach the parents, the families and the communities how to embrace everyone and how to live better together.”

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