Canada offers new opportunities for Saint Lucians
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Contact: Julita Peter
Wednesday, March 5, 2008 – Increased opportunities are being offered to Saint Lucians wishing to advance their studies in Canada. A delegation from the Canada-Based, Okanagan College recently visited the island, while on a recruitment drive throughout the Caribbean, to increase the enrolment of Caribbean students at the college. Currently there are approximately thirty students from the Caribbean attending the college.
Professor Steve Koehle, Vice President responsible for the international education program, said the institution is creating the avenue for the region to further develop its human resource.
“Okanagan College's mission statement is very bold and very direct. It states simply “Okanagan College transform lives and communities”. We truly believe that; because we do it everyday. We're involved in the transformation process for individual students, and we feel we have an important role to play in the world,” Professor Koehle said.
While in St. Lucia, the delegation held dialogue with Prime Minister Honourable Stephenson King and other ministers of government on not just education but the huge opportunities that exist in Western Canada in particular. Prime Minister King believes the time has come for the country to position itself to respond effectively to international investment opportunities.
“I personally believe that your entry into Saint Lucia is indeed timely. It is coming at a time when the country itself is making quantum leaps into new economic spheres. To do this it means that not only must we look forward to the outcome, but we must also prepare ourselves to create the outcome, so our people could be participants, rather than spectators in what is happening,” Prime Minister King said.
Okanagan College is hoping to engage the government of St. Lucia in a Memorandum of Understanding, setting the basis from which the two parties can build more detailed agreements related to education and employment opportunities.
Prime Minister Stephenson King has agreed that while historically St. Lucia has been providing unskilled labour to first world countries, it recognizes that the demand for skilled and semi-skilled workers is increasing.
The visiting Okanagan College delegation has expressed the desire to advance dialogue with education ministers and other education officials from the region, on educational issues such as program structures and standards in education. |
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