In the Month of March 2007 the Education Department started the process of holding sessions in order to develop an Education Policy for the island of Saba.
The sessions are guided by Lennox Bernard, PhD, Resident Tutor/Head at the University of the West Indies, Trinidad & Tobago.
The activities are facilitated by the Innovations Bureau.
We follow the principle of 'grassroot approach': the consultant guides us through the process, but all content comes from the Saban participants.
During Dr. Bernard's first visit on this topic (March 5-9) a stakeholder meeting was held. The participants added many vital topics to the discussion, eg:
- Expulsion
- Teacher training
- Truancy
- Role of Inspectorate
- Maximize potential of youth
- Mental health
A Task Force was proposed. The members will each prepare a chapter of the policy and stay in direct contact with Dr. Bernard.
The Task Force consists of the following members, each with their own topic or task:
- Franklin Wilson - Structure of Education and Training on Saba; Chairman
- Jet van Heijnsbergen - Special Education; Vice Chair
- Constance Clement - Secretariat
- Dave Levenstone - Early Childhood Development
- Diane Wilson - Primary Education, FBE
- Jonathan Johnson - Secondary, Post Secondary and Vocational Education
- Carl Buncamper - Employment and Lifelong Education and Training
- Roy Smith - International Links
- Elka Charles - Parent Communication Interaction
- Sam Belmar - Research
- Delroy Sinclair - ICT
Members of the Task Force will be in touch with community members and could form subcommittees to gather information. Meetings will be held throughout the months of March, May and April, until Dr. Bernard's next visit in the last week of May.
More visits are planned for August, when a symposium will be organized to discuss the first results with the general public.
The Education Policy for Saba will be completed and presented by October 2007.
EDUCATION POLICY SABA