Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

Turks and Caicos, September 12, 2024 – Students and parents across the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), will be benefiting from several social programmes aimed at boosting education and supporting parents in need, with expanded provisions for special needs children.

Making the disclosure during her back-to-school message, Minister of Education, Youth, Culture, Social and Library Services, Hon. Rachel Taylor says the Government will onboard four special education teachers and implements solutions to identified challenges in the education system.

She said her team at the Ministry is working diligently to ensure that “we have a more streamlined system in place, and we will continue to support parents and students through the private school subsidy programme, and the school voucher programme,” the Minister said.

The goal of the initiatives, she said, is to reduce the financial burdens on parents and caregivers, so that all children are able to go to school, and stay in the education system, “despite the economic challenges,” as the mission of the education system is to ensure that no child is left behind.

“We continue to strengthen our special needs education system, and this year, we will be providing services from our SNAP (Special Needs Association of Providenciales, Centre),” she said, noting that a new Principal has been appointed for the institution.

Adding that in response to particular needs, the Ministry has also extended a special reading initiative for students, starting from the kindergarten to second from, designed to enhance decoding and comprehension skills, “while building confidence on the part” to students’ education journey.

“We will also onboard the remaining Mathematics and reading specialists to complete our teaching compliment. We believe that reading and numeracy are the foundations that children must master, to seamlessly progress in their educational journey,” the Minister outlined.

She said the Social and Enhancement Academic Afterschool Programme will continue this school year, with additional offerings, to support working parents and guardians, providing  a “safe and productive” environment for students, in  afterschool hours, getting supervised activities, and enrichment programmes.

It is open to all students and teachers in public schools and is part of the “Government’s commitment to supporting families, amidst the rising living costs,” the Minister said, while emphasising that teachers are “working tirelessly” to shape the future for students.

“As we embark on a new school year, our focus is on providing transformative high-quality education, and enriching the classroom environment, and ensuring our infrastructure supports this new approach to learning,” she stated.

According to Miss Taylor, the Ministry has been working carefully to ensure that there are school places available for all school-age children in the educational institutions, and challenges with the registration process are recognised, and work is being done to ensure that they are solved.

The SNAP Centre provides educational and life skills opportunities for children and young people with disabilities between the ages of four and 24 years. It provides intellectual and life skills opportunities for targeted children and young persons. The origins of the Centre, formally P.A.T.H. Centre were based on the community efforts as it was started by a group of parents of children with special needs and advocates of special needs.

MONTEGO BAY, September 5. 2024 – Schools across Trelawny saw a large turnout of students ready to embrace the new academic year, despite ongoing repairs to some institutions that were damaged by Hurricane Beryl.

Schools across the country have been divided into three priorities by the Ministry of Education and Youth, in an effort to facilitate timely restoration.

Priority One schools, which are the most severely damaged, must be fully repaired and ready before the school year starts. Priority Two and Three schools can continue to be repaired  while classes are in session.

In an interview with JIS News on Monday (September 2), Provisional Principal, Unity Primary and Infant school in Bunkers Hill, Marilyn Salmon, said despite damage to the school’s infrastructure, contingency plans put in place have proven effective.

“As you may see, our roof has been lifted… .  Unfortunately, it could not be done within the allotted time based on the level of work that needs to be done,” she said.

“But we have in place a contingency plan, which you might see taking place here now. We have our grade-one  students being housed in a different compartment that is not really the grade-one room, and so forth,” she added.

Ms. Salmon explained that as part of the contingency plan, the school has strategically combined classes where necessary and that teachers have been utilising outdoor spaces creatively to continue lessons.

“And teachers have had classes underneath trees since morning, and of course, the students are loving it,” she said.

Ms. Salmon also noted that while the school’s canteen is currently non-operational, alternative food options have been arranged for the students.

“We also have some electrical concerns, and those are under repairs also,” the Principal said.

For his part, Principal at Falmouth All-Age, Kirk Spencer, said the infrastructure at his institution also suffered damage, adding that despite a few challenges in obtaining materials, repair work continues.

“The contractor indicated that there were some issues with regard to procuring the materials. But he has pointed out that the work should be completed within a week. So, we are hoping that there are no further delays,” he said.

Mr. Spencer also added that they too have contingency plans in place due to not being as fully staffed as they had intended to be.

“We are not fully staffed, but we are adequately staffed. We would have received a resignation just a few days before school reopened, so that class will be manned by our vice-principal,” he said.

Despite the ongoing repairs, parents remain confident in the schools’ leadership and their commitment to providing quality education.

Parent at Falmouth All-Age School, Fiona Thomas, expressed her confidence in the institution, saying she expects nothing but the best for her child.

“As I entrust my child to this school, I am hoping and praying for the best,” she told JIS News.

Contact: Natalia Dixon

Release: JIS Montego Bay

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida  — The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Education Foundation (CHTAEF) proudly announces the latest cohort of recipients for its prestigious hospitality scholarship for the 2024/25 academic year. This scholarship program supports outstanding students from across the Caribbean, fostering their academic pursuits in critical areas of the hospitality industry such as culinary arts, business management, and hotel operations.

This year’s scholarships highlight the commitment to developing future leaders, with two of the 12 scholars set to pursue master’s degrees, including one in a notable partnership with Les Roches, Marabella.

Meet the 2024/25 Scholars:
Antigua:
Careena Eastwood: Pursuing an Associate Degree in Tourism Management at the University of The West Indies Open Campus.
Kerissa Henry: Enrolled in a Bachelor of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management at the University of The West Indies Open Campus.
Olvanah Richardson-Burnette: Studying for a Bachelor of Science in Operations Management at Southern New Hampshire University.
Roan Akeem Jacobs: Engaged in the Food & Beverage Management Cornell Certificate Program through eCornell Online.

Bahamas:
Rhema Blackman: Continuing her Bachelor of Culinary Arts and Food & Beverage Management at Johnson & Wales University.
Marrisa Campbell: Earning an Associate Degree in Operations Management at Holland College.

Barbados:
Zaria Collymore: Completing a Bachelor of Hotel Management at Florida International University (FIU).
Jamal Griffith: Advancing to a Master’s in Marketing and Management of Luxury Tourism at Les Roches, Marbella. Jamal cites lifelong inspirations from accompanying his father on island tours, fostering a passion for promoting Barbados as a leading tourist destination.

St. Lucia:
Luthanie Luel Contantin: Pursuing a Bachelor of Tourism Management at Monroe College, with a focus on sustainable tourism and community empowerment.
Roxanne Nichelle Tench: Working towards a Bachelor of Science in Business Management at Monroe College.

Trinidad:
Sophia Rios Herrera: Continues to excel in her Bachelor’s in Hotel Management at Les Roches, Marbella.

USVI:
Ira Claxton: Advancing his Master’s in Hospitality Management with a specialization in Hotel Real Estate Development at FIU.

Karolin Troubetzkoy, Chairwoman of the Education Foundation, expressed her congratulations: “We are thrilled to support such an inspiring group of young professionals who are poised to lead and innovate in the Caribbean hospitality industry. We look forward to their future successes.”

To learn more about the CHTAEF and the scholarship opportunities it provides, please visit chtaef.com.