| |
Contact:
Julita Peter
Wednesday, December 1, 2004 - Minister of Education, Human Resource
Development, Youth and Spots, Hon. Mario Michel has warned against the
educational fast tracking that is being offered by some institutions, noting
that persons applying to overseas colleges and universities must ensure that
these are credited institutions. Mr. Michel at the time was addressing the 18th
Graduation Ceremony of Sir Arthur Lewis Community College last Sunday, November
28.
The graduation came, as efforts continue towards the provision of universal
secondary education in St. Lucia, amid growing demand for universal tertiary
education.
“Simple logic, rather than unreasonable haste should guide anyone wishing
ultimately to have a Masters degree, to appreciate that no worth while Masters
degree can be obtained like instant coffee, without first ensuring that the
mastery of the basics has been attained”, Minister Michel said, adding, “the way
forward for us as a country and as a people therefore, must involve a more
discriminating sense of what we want for ourselves”. He pointed out that we
needed to beware of the proverbial Greeks bearing gifts, and ensure that the
degree offering, which we associate ourselves with are world class, bonafide,
and academically sound products.
The Education Minister said the island’s sole tertiary institution, the Sir
Arthur Lewis Community college needed to be more proactive in forging alliances
with highly regarded institutions around the world.
“It is partnership like this that would enable the college to offer degree
programs in areas that we might not currently or in the foreseeable future have
the capacity to independently offer. An examination of the degree offering of
the college shows that we are very much locked into the UWI network, and while
our partnering with the regional university is good, there are significant
opportunities for going beyond the limited degree options now available, through
the development of strategic alliances with other reputable institutions”, said
Mr. Michel.
He stressed that the forging of partnerships with sound tertiary institutions
and the programs that should be offered, must be determined by an analysis of
the national human resource needs.
|
