The annual review of education and training in Anguilla, 2020, has just been completed. The two-day event, on August 20 and 21, was part of a Strategy for Education, 2015-2020, drawn up during the former Government of Anguilla.
Those in attendance included Principals, Deputies and Curriculum Officers. Other persons were the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, Rev. Dr. Wycherley Gumbs; and Dr Michelle Queeley, Dean of the Anguilla Community College.
Newly-appointed Permanent Secretary, Dr. Bonnie Richardson-Lake, speaking at the Teachers’ Resource Centre, said it was important to consider what was achieved in the past and what should now be accomplished.
She was of the view, now that she had moved back into the education sector, under a new administration, that there was a need to examine certain priority areas. She observed that the period 2015-2020, had included two unprecedented events that had a tremendous impact on how Anguilla delivered the education sector. She identified them as having been Hurricane Irma in 2017 and Covid-19, 2020. “These events, particularly Covid-19, were not anticipated in our planning, yet we had to respond to them,” she added. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all for their hard work in this really challenging time.”
The Permanent Secretary regretted that the newly-appointed Minister of Education and Social Development, Ms. Dee-Ann Kentish Rogers, and her Ministerial Assistant, Mr. Merrick Richardson, were not present at the time. They were at a meeting of the Executive Council and hoped to join the discussions the following day.
Education Services Planner, Mrs. Dawn Reid, explained that the strategic planning cycle, during the past five years, 2015-2020, involved looking at the Mission of the Ministry and Department of Education – its goals; internal and external issues; and the development of strategies to assist in achieving goals.
The first day of the event included addresses on Pre-Primary and Primary Education. The speakers were: Mrs. Susan Smith, Education Officer, Primary & Pre-Primary; Ms. Sandra Fahie, Education Officer, Curriculum Development; Ms. Deavene Guishard, Assessment Officer; Mrs. Tracelyn Hamilton, Multi-Professional Services; Mrs. Rita Carty, Principal, Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School; Mrs. Colleen Horsford, Education Officer, Assessment; Mr. Feliciano James, TVET Coordinator; and Dr. Michelle Queeley, Dean of the Anguilla Community College, who spoke on Tertiary Education; and Mr. Bren Romney, Chief Education Officer, whose topic was on Central Administration.
The second day of the education review was on the way forward during which there were a series of open floor discussions and questions.
Anguilla’s Mission Statement, embarked upon during the previous administration for a Strategy for Education and Training for a Better Future and Vision, read as follows:
“The Government of Anguilla is committed to providing quality education services, through highly-motivated and competent educators, to produce loyal knowledgeable and skilled citizens of sound character, empowered to function effectively in a rapidly-changing technological society.”
