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by pltm
(PLTM) - A large number of young people on Monday, October 15, crowded the Moorings Conference Room to register for the Virgin Islands High School Certificate Programme (VIHCP)—a Ministry of Education initiative geared at increasing the employment opportunities of school dropouts.
The programme will see dropouts being able to earn a high school diploma in months, without having to attend night school.
Instead, they will be provided with the syllabus and optional tutorials while engaged in independent studying.
The four core subjects they will be prepared for are Mathematics, English, Science and Social-Studies, along with a life skill subject. Examinations will be administered twice yearly, and are free of cost for the first sitting.
Minister of Education and Culture, the Honourable Myron Walwyn, during the launch, reminded the hopeful participants that the programme requires dedication and discipline.
“Studying independently has become the norm with many universities around the world and requires discipline,” he stated.
“You must develop a structured time-table for your study and you must stick to it. Plan your days properly. Take this thing seriously because this is serious business. We have presented you with a challenge and want all of you to win.”
He reminded that this is a golden opportunity as the “examination will be free, the weekly tutorials will also be free, but they are only free if you pass all of your examinations of the first try.”
He emphasised the importance of preparation and studying, telling registrants, “I expect you to be prepared before you take the examination. The programme is designed to be flexible so you don’t have to do all five subjects at once, unless of course you have the ability to do so.”
Registrants have the chance of accessing their certificates by February.
Hon. Walwyn had indicated that the programme was founded and is “being undertaken in order reduce unemployment levels, especially among young people.”
