HLSCC now under responsibility of Education Ministry
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The highest learning institution in the Virgin Islands - the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College - now becomes the responsibility of the Ministry of Education and Culture.
The college previously fell under the portfolio of the Premier’s Office.
Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Culture Dr. Marcia Potter, when contacted by Virgin Islands News Online, confirmed this and indicated that discussions were held between Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith and Governor Boyd McCleary and the decision was taken to have the statutory board of the college go under the umbrella of the Ministry of Education and Culture.
Meanwhile, Premier Smith in his budget address on January 17, 2012, on the issue of unemployment and strategies for tackling it had said, “Going forward into 2012, we will need to do a better job of straddling the gap between economic growth and improvements in employment. We will have to utilize HLSCC in retraining to better equip our people to adapt to the needs and demands of a changing economy...”
President of the HLSCC Dr. Karl Dawson told Virgin Islands News Online that the move should allow for a more holistic examination of education in the Territory and bears potential for greater collaboration at all levels in the Education system.
“We are looking forward to working closely with the Minister and the Ministry. We see potential for the further development of the college,” Dr. Dawson said.
The H. Lavity Stoutt Community College held its opening ceremony on January 14, 1990 and was dedicated on August 15, 1993. This first campus building encompassed some 10,000 square feet and had 15 classrooms and laboratories on the upper floors, and 4,700 square feet for administrative offices on the ground floor.
According to the HLSCC website, the college continues to exhibit steady growth. Whereas it began its operations in 1990 with 135 students, enrolment during the 1992-93 academic year stood at over 300, progressed to 500 during the 1995-96 year, and exceeded 650 during the 1998-99 academic year. In the more recent years, it has exceeded 1,000.
New programmes continue to come on stream, consonant with the College's mission and growth, with the Virgin Islands Studies Programme being one of the most outstanding, the college stated on its website.
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