02
9 June 2018
www.govt.lc
WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED
CONTENTS
In this issue of “Our Saint Lucia” we focus on just a snapshot of some of the achievements of Government of the Saint Lucia over the past two years. We have seen improvements in our tourism and agriculture industry. We have also seen extensive work in infrastructure. As we review some of those we must also recognize the reduction in unemployment figures and the improvements in our economy and this is only the beginning. Throughout this issue you will find information on Government’s efforts in a range of areas.
Building a Better Education System Delivering on the top five
4
Justice and Security a priority
6 Happening in the Health Sector
7 Investments Achieved and in the Pipeline
8-9
Work completed around Saint Lucia
10-11
Introduction of computer coding and robotics in schools: The Computer Coding and Robotics pilot, an initiative intended to foster positive behavioral change in students through their engagement in both computer coding and robotics was launched in March, 2018. With funding and technical support by USAID, through the Community, Family and Youth Resilience (CFYR) Programme, the innovative undertaking was born according to facilitators out of the need to modernize the school curriculum. Dennery Infant School: With financing form the World Bank, from the International Development Association and the Climate Investment Fund, the Dennery Infant School benefited from timely renovations under the Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project (DVRP). December 8th 2017 marked the official handover ceremony for the freshly reconstructed facility. Progress Made in Rehabilitation of Schools: ‘Building back better’ has been a priority for government, particularly where schools are concerned. In his 2018-2019 budget presentation Prime Minister Allen Chastanet noted, “When we came into office two years ago we found an alarming state of decay in most of our school buildings and a moribund curriculum unsuited to the demands of a service economy.” Thus, the government set about to correct those deficiencies in several ways. In addition to sprucing up physical structures, rehabilitation plans for schools include a modernized approach to teaching and learning, as well as technology rich curriculums. Model Safe Schools Programme: School and student safety and security has remained a priority for this administration, particularly with the launch of the Model Safe Schools Programme, that offers tools to assess the level of safety of schools. The programme which focuses on risk reduction was launched by the Department of Education, Innovation and Gender Relations in collaboration with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) with financing from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). Complementing this initiative was a targeted training session for school security officers, meant to boost their ability to maintain security and enforce regulations at schools across the island. Launch of #EducateSaintLucia: Unveiled by the Department of Education, Innovation and Gender Relations, the #EducateSaintLucia initiative highlights eight fundamental pillars as the foundation for the project. These include the ACT initiative, 1st Generation Initiative, Knapsack Drive, Lifelong Learning, Vocational Qualification, Volunteerism and Apprenticeship, Career Readiness and Innovation. The project aims to improve the quality, accessibility and affordability of education for Saint Lucians.
