Education
Fairness Questioned, School Lunch Program should be for Every Child
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, January 23, 2023 – As the cost of living crisis affects families at all levels across the Turks and Caicos, Magnetic Media has asked the question of officials: what is being put in place for families above the poverty line who need help as well.
The query follows the Government announced school feeding program aimed at providing support for the lowest income earners, a part of a suite of revolutionary legislative initiatives which will accompany the change to minimum wage from $6.25 per hour to up to $9 per hour as of April 1st, 2023.
The cost of the program, which also creates free daycare and free after school care is attracting a $4 million dollar price tag, informed Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Special Needs.
The feeding program, earmarked for a September 2023 start, will introduce the certainty of at least one meal a day for students who meet the criteria helping provide them with a nutritious lunch and easing the burden on parents.
But does this limited focus exclude families who, while being higher earners, have also found living historically more expensive?
Groceries in The Turks and Caicos went up 38 percent in 2022; an almost unfathomable increase which all families have had to bear. The Government stepped in to help with a freeze on duties for bread basket items, evening extending it but that tax exemption excludes many of the lunch-leaning foods that children favor.
A dent in grocery bills thanks to guaranteed lunches would help all families, including those above the poverty line with multiple children.
Our media house reached out to government members to get an explanation of the rationale behind the program and former in the Ministry of Education, Wesley Clerveaux, who is now moved as the Permanent Secretary of Tourism explained there was nothing blocking families from being on the program and they should apply if they need the help.
“Funding was provided to support the majority of the student population in the assumption that there will be a small percentage of students that may not register to participate,” he said.
The MOE has not yet announced an application process, in particular only maintaining that teachers would look out for students who did not have a healthy meal.
The situation is the same with the daycare plan, while Turks and Caicos islanders will benefit expatriate workers, who make up the majority of the workforce, are not included as beneficiaries of the government plan.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 17, 2023 – Musicians from the New World Symphony will be in the Turks and Caicos in concert next month and residents are invited to attend in support of the future of Ashley’s Learning Center. 
A fairly young orchestral academy based in Miami, the New World Symphony was launched in the 1980s by 1987, Michael Tilson Thomas and Ted Arison,Carnival Cruises founder. From the 1500 applicants who vie for a spot each year, the symphony accepts around 35 music graduates annually for training fellowships.
A select few of those graduates will be in country on April 8th headlining at the Ashley’s Learning Center concert ‘We’re all in this together’. The concert which also feature local artistes will be held at Brayton Hall on Venetian Road from 6 pm to 8:30 pm
Tickets are available ON ISLEHELP $75 PER GENERAL SEAT $125 PER PREMIUM SEAT $195 PER GALLERY SEAT – with /FREFRESHMENTS.
For TICKET RESERVATIONs you can call: 649-341-2304 or email EVENTS@ASHLEYSLEARNINGCENTER.ORG
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
March 17, 2023 – Celery is a great food for people trying to lose weight or just put healthy meals on the table. It’s
mostly made up of water and with only ten calories per stalk, you can add it into juices, salads, stir frys and more, without worrying about large amounts of sugar.
There are other health benefits as well. Healthline says it is rich in antioxidants, reduces inflammation, supports digestion and it can help with heartburn from spicy foods!
TCI farmers have hopped onto the celery train and the nutritious vegetable will be available to purchase, in a debut for celery, at the Farmers Market this Saturday March 18th from 8:30 am to 1pm.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 16, 2023 – Deputy Governor Anya Williams is committing to improvements in the public service including better wages. The Head of the Civil Service made the announcement in a recent National Teacher’s Day message. 
“We recognize, commend, and applaud you for your service and promise our commitment to continue to work to improve the infrastructure, pay, and benefits, not only for teachers but also the wider public service.”
The announcement comes after the DG’s office released a tender for a consultant to reassess the pay grading scale for the entirety of the public service. Recognizing Education Week, Williams thanked the country’s teachers for their service throughout the years.
“In recognition of Teacher’s Day, I would like to express our profound thanks to teachers across the Turks and Caicos Islands, specifically highlighting the over four hundred teachers in our public service that give selflessly of themselves every day to educate, mold and inspire the future generations of these islands.”
Williams celebrated Education Week along with Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education and hundreds of teachers and students who participated in debates, field trips and the science fair sponsored by FortisTCI.
It was the first time in two years that the events were held on such a large scale because of COVID-19.
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