Anguillian Dr. Arthur Richardson, who was involved in developing the concept for the Anguilla Community College, is proud of its role now that it has become a tertiary institution offering Diploma and Associate Degree courses.
“Dr. Bevis Peters [a UWI colleague] and I developed the concept paper,” he recalled. “We were recruited by the Government of Anguilla to develop what was in fact the road map which was designed to set up the Community College.” That was about six years ago, he told The Anguillian. Earlier, in 1991, he was seconded from the University of theWest Indiesto establish the current Primary Teachers’ Training Programme on the island.
“I think the Community College is on the right path,” he continued. “I think it is important for a tertiary level institution, in a developing island, likeAnguilla, to so structure programmes that would facilitate the development of education and, to a larger extent, the development of its human resources.”
Commenting on Professor Louden’s desire for the Community College to establish “linkages and collaborations” with other institutions in the region and beyond, Professor Richardson said in part: “I think the University of the West Indies would facilitate linkages and developments throughout theCaribbeanin relation to tertiary level institutions. Because Anguilla is a contributing island to the University of the West Indies, I think that the Community College, as an institution, can look to that University for assistance in terms of not only developing programmes, but accrediting them as well. When one looks at what is happening in the Eastern Caribbean, a lot of Community Colleges there have established linkages with other tertiary level institutions and universities within the Caribbean and, in fact, the wider world. This can only benefit the development and growth of the institutions.”
Replying, Professor Louden stated: “These linkages and collaborations are going very well. We just had a conference call with UWI,Jamaica, regarding programmes for students who have completed their Associate Degree, to go to The Bahamas to complete their Baccalaureate at some very considerably reduced fee levels. That is an important opportunity.
“We are helping many of the Sixth Form graduates of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, through our linkages, to get them to universities in theUnited States. We work closely with many of the regional institutions, and they are developing not just the academic programmes, but vocational and technical programmes through linkages with UTECH and City & Guilds and so forth. So please get the Government to pass the Education Bill.
“For our technical and vocational programme, we need to have the legislation governing those areas of skill education in place. The TVET Council needs to be permanently established.”
