Some thirty students, who have been involved in technical and vocational studies at the Sixth Form at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, have now been transferred to the Anguilla Community College. There, the group of students, formerly known as “TECH VOC 6”, have commenced the BTEC (Business & Technology Education Council) Level 2 studies with financial assistance from the Anguilla Government.
It is an Extended Diploma Programme leading to secondary school leaving vocational qualifications equal to A-Levels, with world-wide recognition. The programme is currently being taken in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Speaking at the ceremony to mark the transfer of the students on September 30, Minister of Education, Mr. Evans McNiel Rogers, said in part: “I am proud of this transfer of the Technical Vocational 6th Form to the Anguilla Community College. This is another step forward for my Ministry in the provision of technical and vocational training opportunities to our people. Right here, at the Anguilla Community College, students can attain world-recognised qualifications in the hospitality and construction areas.
“This is just the beginning. It is our intention to expand our programme offerings, over time, to other areas that are matched with labour force needs nationally and internationally. Our Government is committed to encouraging continuing education, and for those students who are entering this programme immediately… we are covering the tuition costs of the programme. This is an investment in our young people and it is one that we are happy to make.”
The Education Minister continued: “In addition to the 6th Formers, we must also encourage other persons in the community, who are interested in studies in this area, to sign up. While Government is meeting the costs for the 6th Form students…other people can access the programme at their own expense. The programme schedules are flexible to accommodate working persons at the college and allow for payment plans as well.”
Minister Rogers added: “It has taken some time for us to get here. A lot of work would have gone into this by the Ministry and Department of Education, the Anguilla Community College, the TVET Council and, in particular, our TVET Coordinator [Mrs. Janice McKeag-Richardson]. I commend all persons involved for their contribution to date. However, there is still much work to be done. Efforts are on-going to ensure that we can offer BTEC programmes at ALHCS to build that foundation on which our students can progress seamlessly to the Anguilla Community College in the technical areas.”
Professor Delroy Louden, President of the Community College, described the transfer of students there as a remarkable milestone, noting that for many years such an achievement was not thought to be possible. “You are embarking on a remarkable opportunity to gain skills and technology here at home, with smaller class size, individual tuition and so forth,” he told the students.
He particularly expressed appreciation to Mrs. McKeag-Richardson whom he said had laboured hard to stress the importance of TVET education and the higher training of technical students. He said that, notwithstanding the financial assistance being provided to students by the Government, the Community College “will do its best to ensure it can provide some guidance and help” to them. He assured the students that the faculty and staff of the college were devoted to serving them.
Mrs. McKeag-Richardson was pleased with the transfer of the technical students to the college which she said would launch them into the future. She thanked the Ministry of Education for supporting the idea and providing the necessary resources – and looked forward to the graduation of the students and the admission of other students to the BTEC programme.
The Dean of Studies at the Community College, Dr. Leroy Hill, was of the view that with this educational opportunity, no one should get left behind. He encouraged the students to commit themselves to the programme and to the success and benefits it offers to them.
The ceremony was chaired by Mr. Quincy Harrigan, a former Principal of the ALHCS, who is now Director of Humanities and Education at the Community College. In welcoming the students, he reminded them that their “education did not end at the ALHCS and should not be ending at the college either because it has been recognised that education is a life-long learning” system.
Following the ceremony, Ms. Lenora Taylor, an educator from Jamaica, conducted an induction session for the students.
