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by pltm
(PLTM) - Premier Hon. Dr. D. Orlando Smith has praised his Education Minister, for taking up the challenge to move technical and vocational studies to another level.
The Premier said that back in 2005, government had started a programme at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) for technical studies, but something was missing.
"It was successful to a larger extent, but I recall the person in the college who was involved in teaching that programme, said to me that one thing that you could not get through was that it does not matter what kind of subjects are being taught, it should have been on the same (level with secondary schools)."
He added, "So that was a criticism...And then in this term came the Hon. Myron V. Walwyn, and he took up he challenge of moving the programme from where it was then, to where it is now, and I want to congratulate him for that."
Premier Smith however indicated that the programme at the college was not a total failure.
He said that back in the days, BVIslanders dominated the skilled field.
"When I was a little boy growing up, almost all the technicians, carpenters and plumbers in the BVI were home grown BVIslanders, and then up to a time there seem to be no BVIslanders in those trades."
Minister Walwyn has also commented that the Baughers Bay Technical School, now the Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies, did not meet the needs of the youth.
"The former institution, which was referred to as the technical school, or given the nickname “The Ark”, was a very good effort with very good intentions," he said.
"But I am sure we would all agree that it did not meet all the needs of our students and the needs in the Territory for an institution like this, that adequately supports the labour market. "
