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Gov’t wants education to add focus on VI History, Civic & Financial Literacy

Governor Rankin said the adjustments to the Act will also include a focus on Virgin Islands History, Civic, and Financial Literacy which are paramount to the advancement of the individual and the society. Photo: Internet Source
The Governor added that the Government will also seek to expand and enhance the technical and vocational skills programs to increase the pool of skilled workers and strengthen the entrepreneurial skills of current and future generations of Virgin Islanders. Photo: HoA/Youtube
The Governor added that the Government will also seek to expand and enhance the technical and vocational skills programs to increase the pool of skilled workers and strengthen the entrepreneurial skills of current and future generations of Virgin Islanders. Photo: HoA/Youtube
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Governor John J. Rankin, CMG says as the Government seeks to re-imagine education, during this Fifth Session of the House of Assembly (HoA), adjustments will be made to the Education Amendment Act (2014) and its Regulations completed to ensure that teaching and learning align with the needs of students in the 21st century.

This he says will see further adjustments to consider the drive of S.T.E.A.M. – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math education.

“We must re-think education and prepare the next generation to take advantage of the wealth of opportunities and overcome the challenges enabled by ever-increasing technological change,” Governor Rankin said in the Speech from the Throne delivered on Tuesday, January 24, 2023.

The adjustments, he added, will consider the demand for online learning where schools and classrooms must have in place technology-driven standards, redefine the roles and responsibilities of teachers, students, and parents, and address the curriculum changes that are necessary to foster and develop 21st-century skills.

Focus on History and Financial Literacy 

“The adjustments to the Act will also include a focus on Virgin Islands History, Civic, and Financial Literacy, which are paramount to the advancement of the individual and the society,” he said.

The Governor added that the Government will also seek to expand and enhance the technical and vocational skills programmes to increase the pool of skilled workers and strengthen the entrepreneurial skills of current and future generations of Virgin Islanders.

“While the Members of the House deliberate the Education Act, the Ministry of Education will seek to put in place several policies such as the Early Childhood Education policy, the Special Education Policy, Promotion, Placement and Retention Policy, Graduation Requirements, S.T.E.A.M. policy,” he added.

Governor Rankin said the Government will also put in place a Curriculum policy and update the Discipline policy along with a Student Code of Conduct that focuses on values, relationships, and skill-building.

The Speech from the Throne, traditionally delivered by the Governor, is written by the Premier and his Government and sets out the Administration’s legislative agenda for the year.

7 Responses to “Gov’t wants education to add focus on VI History, Civic & Financial Literacy”

  • Hmmmm (31/01/2023, 09:56) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    Here we go again. Keep adding everything else while our salaries does not add up. Shameless government
  • To late now (31/01/2023, 10:21) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    De Castro trying her best she should have been the minister from 2019
  • Concerned (31/01/2023, 10:37) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Children need to learn to read first. Put back fundamentals for the first stage of school, reading, writing, arithmetic. A lot of students in high school do not know how to read. Kindergarten is a vital step, which determines how a student performs for the rest of their life. Where putting too much things on these children at such a small age. Children in primary school doing high school work. Lets go back to the basics, sounded out your words, learning your timetables and so fort, its very sad.
    • Damn shame (31/01/2023, 14:34) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      All they teach them to do is remember so they can pass an exam. In a first world country that I have lived in the only homework children get in the early years is reading. That means teachers actually have to teach for their students to retain, not recite! How on earth do you build a society of critical thinkers if all they are educated to do is remember so you can have the correct answer to pass. A bunch of nonsense the Caribbean countries doing to the education system.

      2023 and we only now talking about adding VI History to the curriculum. DAMN SHAMEFUL! YOU "EDUCATORS" IN THIS INDUSTRY FOR DECADES, YOU ALL ARE A DISGRACE!

      Thank God I chose Mrs Jenny Weatley class at the college otherwise I wouldn't have known sh!t either. All them teach you is Arawaks/ Caribs, African Slaves and indentured labour, and just intensify on these for 12 years! No wonder people don't have any damn pride for these VIs. They put money into a new song and dress but didn't bother putting VI history into the curriculums. Lol got to be a joke.
  • Mustang (31/01/2023, 12:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Governor giving the throne speech is a misnomer and misplace. The throne speech seems unrelated to what the throne is doing. Instead, the speech is about the proposed actions of the local government and it should be renamed and given by the leader of government business. The Governor can, if so desire, give an annual speech on what going with the crown and impact on the BVI.

    Moreover, it was shortsighted to have taken civics out of the curriculum. Further, I was educated in the BVI and little or nothing about finance in school. The little that I learn was by trial and error on the ‘street.’ Life would be better if had learn Finance basics in school. What a glorious ting it would have been if I had learn about the power of compounding, that credit card debt is the worst debt ever devised ( paying interest on interest is a losing proposition). Credit cards are now banks cash cows. Moreover, education is the the BVI growth, development, sustainability, and resilience, ie, STEAM, Technology, civics, finance.
  • Josiahsbay (31/01/2023, 18:39) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    The most important aspect of education that is needed is to rid ourselves of the colonial indoctrination fed to our children's minds. The next thing is to educate them to be a fit for our economical model (S.T.E.A.M.). It makes no sense to educate children and when they graduate they don't fit into our economy.
  • Hmm (01/02/2023, 05:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    So what about teaching the youths on agriculture,we here relax but food an meat will soon stop coming in here!! We will all kill each other to survive!!


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