Education is essential to our pathway out of poverty. Education is the greatest equalizer between the haves and the have-nots and it is the process by which we can all achieve our dreams and aspirations. I can testify to the power of education which has transformed my life in such a positive way. Now I am grateful to have the opportunity to give back to my community and to support our children on their journey as lifelong learners. Every parent wants the best outcomes for his/her children and understands the importance of a sound education. Education is of extreme importance to the sustainable development of our country, and we need to invest in and improve our education system for this and future generations.
Firstly, we must recognize that poverty exerts significant limitations on the ability to access education. Children from poor households struggle to keep up with the costs and expenses associated with primary and secondary education. At the start of the school year, there are many parents/guardians who are forced to seek financial support just to be able to purchase text books, buy uniforms, cover administrative fees and obtain the requisite school supplies for the upcoming curriculum. Failure to achieve this widens the gap of inequality in the school system and places these students at a grave disadvantage. Furthermore, the psychological impact of being seen as “less than” can also cripple a student’s individual performance which, if unchecked, can lead to higher dropout rates and delinquency.
Secondly, we must take a serious look at our education curriculum and rail against the naysayers. We can no longer accept the excuse that “we’ve always done it this way”. The world is changing rapidly and our children must not be left behind. In addition to greater investments in STEM Education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), we must incorporate more choice and empower our students with the knowledge to make informed decisions about the career path they wish to pursue. In addition, we must work to incentivize our education system in such a way that we are building our human capital to address the gaps and deficiencies in all sectors relating to national development.
Finally, we must allow the participation of all stakeholders in the process to reform our education system. Government must take the position of listening to these stakeholders through a series of effective consultations. This must first begin with the understanding that government does not have all the solutions, and that it is through meaningful participation and collaboration that we can improve our quality and delivery of education in Anguilla. It is through my own consultations with members of my District, and throughout Anguilla, that I have put forward the following proposals as an example of how we can address some immediate needs:
Implement a Book Loan Scheme
I have spoken on numerous occasions about the high cost of text books and other school supplies. Such programmes have been implemented in other Caribbean countries and have been a major help to poor households.
• A Book Loan Scheme will require an initial investment by the government to purchase text books for Primary and Secondary Level students.
• Parents/Guardians will pay a minimal fee into the programme and the students will receive their required text books for that school year (on loan). Parents/Guardians must sign an agreement that the text books will be kept and maintained in good condition for the duration of the school year.
• At the end of the school year the books are returned to the programme, to be used by other students, and continued rotation of the books occurs.
We must also infuse the latest technologies into this process over the long term. For example, we should be able to download text books that have been digitalised, on laptops or tablets, so that our children no longer have to suffer with heavy backpacks which are also a real health concern.
Improved Facilities/Conditions for Students with Disabilities
• Having a cognitive disability must never be a sentence to a substandard education and livelihood. We must combat the stigma so often involved, and provide students with disabilities the best opportunities to attain their highest possible level of education.
I must at this juncture commend the Concerned Citizens of Anguilla who have been working on the ground as advocates for better education. Mr. Lennox Vanterpool and the members of FORCE (Focused on Redesigning Children’s Education), and concerned parents everywhere, deserve the highest praise for all the work they have done to raise awareness on these issues. I also express my firm and continued commitment to this cause. Let’s work together to make it happen!
