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TCI Special Needs Center Still Not Ready says Education Minister 

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Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer 

 

#TurksandCaicos, September 11, 2023 – After promises of a September 2022 opening which was then pushed to January 2023 the Special Needs Centre for Providenciales is still unfinished leaving local students without that designated space as the school year begins.

Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, made the revelation in a press conference on August 31st ahead of the opening of the new academic year.

Over $ 900,000 was set aside for infrastructural upgrades and another $1.3 million was budgeted for staffing and consultancy. That appears to be ongoing, however, as Taylor said the government anticipated being in possession of the consultant’s report by the end of 2023 prolonging the establishment of the centre.

The school, she had said, is expected to be developed at the former Abundant Life school buildings; now a year after missing its first deadline, the Special Needs Centre remains inexplicably unfinished.

The minister did not detail what caused the holdup in the press conference; and has not replied to questions to her Ministry in the aftermath of the press event to give a national report..

There’s evidence of some progress however as Taylor revealed that:

“All public schools now have a special needs teacher and in some instances two teachers for larger schools.”

So far a speech and learning pathologist has been hired but the search is still on for professionals to fill a  laundry list of positions, from Director of the centre to autism specialized teachers and more.

It was revealed too that a committee has now been established to see the project to completion and a press conference dedicated to special needs has been promised.

Omitted though was information on whether the government had the capacity to house all the special needs students in need of care. In 2022 the government struggled to place a number of social needs students in public school because of a lack of space. Some parents were forced to place their children in private schools or outside of the country which meant additional expenses and emotional strains on these families.

Education

Celebrating the Power of Reading Aloud 

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***MEDIA RELEASE***

 

Turks and Caicos, February 5, 2025 – World Read Aloud Day celebrates the joy and importance of reading aloud, encouraging children and adults to pick up a book, find an audience, and share a story.

Today, in commemoration of World Read Aloud Day, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) joined in the celebration by visiting schools to engage with students through reading.

Commissioner Fitz Bailey visited the Special Needs Association Providenciales (SNAP) Center, where he read to students aged 5-11 and later spoke with students in the 12-20 age group. He reminded them that they are not just special but unique in God’s image and likeness, emphasizing that they are all children of God.

The Commissioner also engaged the students in song, earning applause. He expressed gratitude to Principal Ms. Regena Little and her dedicated staff for their patience, commitment, and genuine care for the students. Commissioner Bailey assured everyone that this would not be his last visit to the center.

Meanwhile, Inspector Delton Robinson and Constable Janefer Stubbs engaged students with lively readings at Ianthe Pratt Primary School, while Constables Rhoan McKoy and Roan Waugh from the Tactical Unit captivated students with animated storytelling sessions at Oseta Jolly Primary School.

The RTCIPF remains committed to collaborating with our communities and fostering education, engagement, and positive connections.

 

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Education

Therapy Abroad Team from Illinois State University Supports Speech and Communication Development Across TCI Schools

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PRESS RELEASE

FROM THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION YOUTH SPORTS AND CULTURE

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands 13th January 2025 The Special Education Needs Services (SENS) Department of the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, and Culture, recently welcomed a team of 10 dedicated volunteers from Illinois State University’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders through the Therapy Abroad program. Throughout their visit, the team made a significant impact, conducting 45 speech assessments and providing invaluable support to private and public schools and students.

The visiting team worked with the SNAP Center, Preparing Little Minds, Tumble Tots, Thelma Lightbourne Primary, and Ianthe Pratt Primary schools this past week. Their efforts included one-on-one speech assessments, group speech therapy sessions with students, and collaborative meetings with teachers to provide insights and strategies to assist children with speech delays and other neurodevelopmental disorders.

Director of the SENS Department, Dr. Anya Malcolm-Gibbs, expressed her gratitude for the collaborative effort: “We are immensely grateful to the Therapy Abroad team and the volunteers from Illinois State University for their unwavering commitment to supporting our students. Their assessments and therapy sessions have brought us closer to understanding and addressing our children’s unique speech and communication needs. I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our Coordinator of Assessments, Mrs. Lashaunda Skippings, whose tireless efforts ensured the success of this initiative.”

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mr. James Astwood, also praised the initiative: “This ongoing partnership between Therapy Abroad and the SENS Department highlights the importance of global collaboration in addressing the diverse needs of our students. The expertise shared and the assessments conducted will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on our schools and the children they serve. We look forward to continuing such partnerships to further enhance the services we provide.”

The SENS Department remains committed to fostering innovative partnerships and delivering specialized support to ensure that every child receives the resources they need to thrive.

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Bahamas News

BTVI APPOINTS FIRST DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE  

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Patrice Gardiner Director of People, BTVI

The Bahamas, January 18, 2025 – The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Patrice Gardiner as its first Director of People. The strategic addition marks a significant cultural transition at BTVI as the institution seeks to rebrand and reposition itself on the regional stage. It is expected that this new role will bring a fresh, vibrant and people-centred approach to the employee experience at BTVI.

Ms. Gardiner has a storied career with a proven track record in Human Resources, Performance Management and Training, Project Management and Customer Service.

BTVI’s President, Dr. Linda A. Davis expressed excitement over the new appointment, stating that Ms. Gardiner’s valuable expertise in the field will usher in a cultural shift that will go a long way in enhancing the quality of the team, while elevating the institution’ brand.

“This appointment signifies BTVI’s commitment to staff and faculty and by extension our strategic growth initiatives. Expected to be the springboard of a culture shift across the institution, this occurs at a pivotal point in our history,” said Dr. Davis.

“BTVI is working assiduously towards accreditation by the National Accreditation and Equivalency Council of The Bahamas (NAECOB) and the Council on Occupational Education (COE), based in Atlanta, Georgia. With institutional-wide inclusion and collaboration necessary for attaining these stamps of approval regarding our educational quality, we believe that a reenergised Human Resources team will be central to our efforts in helping to energise all BTVI employees towards continuous improvement. We look forward to benefitting from Ms. Gardiner’s insight and strategies in this regard,” added Dr. Davis.

Commenting on her appointment, Ms. Gardiner expressed how thrilled she is to join the BTVI team and assisting with cultivating a culture that promotes productivity, creativity and innovation, while maintaining employee relations.

“I look forward to collaborating with all stakeholders to ensure that everyone understands their roles and how their work and presence contribute to our strategic plan goals.  I am aiming to ensure that BTVI has satisfied employees and robust talent management,” said Ms. Gardiner.

She added that ownership and accountability are vital parts of achieving goals; therefore, as Director of People fostering an environment of accountability, teamwork, transparency and reliability is crucial.

One of BTVI’s three institutional pillars is Strengthening our Institute. Ms. Gardiner’s appointment aligns with that thrust of building capacity to serve and excel in a high-performing work environment.

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