Education Defence mounted by Minister Rachel Taylor  

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, May 18, 2022 – “Education is undeniably critical to our success as we continue or march towards nation building. Budgets are not merely arithmetic…but in a thousand ways go to the root of prosperity of individuals nation building  begins with ensuring that there is a capable competent workforce to steer our country’s economic development,” said Rachel Taylor, TCI Minister of Education as she explained how the new Budget would  benefit education and youth.

Taylor’s Ministry had come under fire from the Leader of the Opposition for not having enough support to students including textbooks and online resources.

The Education Minister revealed that $4.5 million has been budgeted to help with broken down infrastructure which includes the decades long flooding issue at H.J. Robinson High School (Grand Turk) which has been left neglected over several administrations.  Taylor also talked up a new six classroom block  for Louise Garland Thomas  High (Long Bay) and a three classroom block  for Clement Howell High school (Blue Hills).

An additional $1 million, she said has been budgeted to further upgrade infrastructure across schools. Additionally Taylor informed that schools are to receive upwards of $130, for specifically for 18 and other miscellaneous items.

For the upgrading of equipment and furniture $800,000, has been allotted to schools, beneficiaries include Raymond Gardiner High in North Caicos; Marjorie Basden High in South Caicos; Doris Robinson Primary in Middle Caicos and Enid Capron School in Five Cays.

Security in the primary schools and high schools has been issue and Government will finally address it.  Minister Taylor, a former primary school principal announced $600,000 is earmarked for proper security contracts, bringing priority to safety of students in the public school sector.

In reply to the Leader of the Opposition, Edwin Astwood, Minister Taylor revealed that teachers in the Turks and Caicos government schools were being trained in several online areas including Kahoot Minecraft learning and others.

Taylor mentioned that the budget was an investment in the use of the Turks and Caicos’s and I’ll just see you but older persons who wish to better themselves as well.