This week Tuesday senior officials and other personnel in the Ministry and Department of Education were engaged in the Annual Review of the Education Policy and Plan for Anguilla.

It was while the former Minister, Eric Reid, was in office, that a policy document covering various matters relating to the development and administration of the education sector was prepared and submitted to him in 2002. Further, it was in the 2005 Election Manifesto of the Anguilla United Front, which formed the Government, that much was also said about the development of education.

Today, while some effort has been made to fulfil a few of the commitments made in both documents, there has been little progress towards that end. We still find ourselves in 2007 rehearsing some of the same things spoken about and still far from implementation. It is no wonder that the two documents were on the study tables during the review exercise to enable the participants to draw some ideas from them.
In the past much emphasis has been placed on the development of the curriculum with respect to the academic education of students. On the other hand technical and vocational education and training has been slow to develop to meet the needs of those students who would do better in acquiring practical skills than in the academic subjects. It is important that technical training becomes an integral part of general education and not be relegated as a second rate alternative.

The view has long been held by all and sundry that the provision of technical and vocation education and training would significantly reduce the frustrations of many students and would be a good substitute for those not academically inclined. By making certain that special consideration is given to this matter, the review of the education policy and plan would go a long way towards helping all students to achieve in accordance to their various abilities, be proud of themselves and become productive citizens in what ever field of endeavour they may choose to pursue. The Minister of Education, Evans Rogers, said that one of the aims of the education review was to prevent some of the anti-social behaviour being experienced among youth on the island. Special attention to technical and vocation education is one solution to that malady.

The review of the island’s education policy and plan must not be undertaken by Ministry and department personnel alone. There must be the involvement of parents, community and business groups and other stakeholders. It is hoped that the general public at large will in time be given the opportunity to share in this vital matter in the interest of all students, the development of Anguilla and the demands of education and the job market.

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