12th May 2005

Dear Sirs,

The following letter was sent to the Chief Minster on 12th May 2005. To date no reply has been received by me.

Please permit me to preface this correspondence with the following quote:

Like Thomas Beckett, Archbishop of Canterbury, shortly before his execution on the orders of King Henry VIII when he said: "Had I have served my God as diligently as I had served my Party and my Government he would not have given me over in my grey hairs.”

Now to the point: I have approached you prior to the election results, that, if it were possible, I would wish to assist, preferably in Education - my expertise - as a Special Assistant in the Ministry of Social Services, as Education comes under this portfolio. A number of times, subsequent to this correspondence to you and a copy of same to my district representative, Hon. Kenneth R. Harrigan, I left the discussions assuming there was some prospect of achieving this objective. With your suggestion I also spoke with the Minister under whose portfolio Education falls.

As much as I would assist, and even knowledgeable of the importance of education in this technological age, and ever-changing and challenging global environment, and not selfish to hold these ideas to myself, I hereby beg to submit to Government and the Department of Education in particular the following suggestions:

• The Government of Anguilla becomes a contributing member of the University of the West Indies in order to secure places at this institution, and at a reduced cost per student. Since Anguilla is NOT a contributing member, we will only get places at this institution if any island does not fill its quota and at a high price per student.
• I think that it is time to institute an Island Scholarship from the results of the Advances Level Certificate or Cape.

When I left the teaching fraternity in 1987, as a graduate teacher, I did not receive the graduate salary scale because I was told primary school teachers did not qualify as graduates. Now that a number of primary and early childhood teachers have graduate certificates, they should be placed in the graduate scale as teachers at secondary level - if this is not the case.

• The Ministry of Education should move to the position that Degree Teachers should at least complete a Certificate or a degree in Education in order to pass the bar in the particular salary scale.

• Any prospective teachers must complete Mathematics and English at least at CXC or Proficiency Level if they intend to teach at any level in the education system.

• The reactivation of the British Commonwealth Fellowships where teachers and civil servants were awarded during the 1960’s to 1980’s.

• The reintroduction of Civics in the Primary School and the introduction of Political Science at Campus B through Campus A as a curriculum subject. As the island advances economically and politically, this subject should be a must in the education system.

• The need for the reviews of the Education Act and Ordinance to meet the ever-changing needs of technology, service and globalisation

• As I see it there is a need for the introduction of an island-wide National Parent Teachers Association i.e early childhood education, primary and secondary education (to be expanded upon) as this is crucial to the standard and practice of discipline in our schools.
• Reintroduction of Probation Officers; or put another way – enforcement of the laws governing the attendance of all school age children.

• The emphasis on phonics at primary school level. It appears at present that as soon as pupils leave the infant department of our schools this aspect of teaching lapses for the most part. As children advance up the school this should be continued so that when a child encounters new words they are able to break these words into syllables. Just listen to the Cable & Wireless spelling bee competitions one would get the jist of hearing what I am trying to explain.

• There need to be a comprehensive development of environmental studies - social studies or integrated studies. They all mean the same. By developing this method pupils/students can move from the known to the unknown thus enhancing the learning process.

• The resurrection of the youth arm of the Anguilla United Front. This is a prerequisite for the sustainable advancement of the party for the future and Anguilla in general.

• Immediate discussions on the renovation of the Old East End School. (I refer to it as the University of East End.) This is an antique as it is the ONLY Government school building built in the early twentieth century (1918). This building could be used as an adult education centre which would include literacy, computer studies and evening institute classes for students at the eastern end of island.

• A special review of retired civil servants and teachers’ pensions. Many retirees, particularly these below Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments, their pensions are hardly able for the lower grades of the service to exist on their meagre pensions. I hereby suggest that Government civil servant retirees below Permanent Secretaries and Head of Departments should be calculated on the present salary scales at the point in the scales at which they retired.

• The continuation of the development of sporting facilities for the youth of the island. Wherever these facilities exist they should be upgraded, and where they do no exist, they should be built, taking into account the availability of funding.

• A priority is the upgrading and renovation of Webster Park – lighting where certain games could be played during the evenings, and if possible, availability of funding permitting, to international standards. Sports are a means whereby students can excel physically, mentally and financially.

I sincerely hope that this correspondence will be seen in the light it has been intended by the writer with no malice, criticism or rebuke to anyone.

Yours respectfully,

Vivien A. Vanterpool
B. PHIL, DAES, DES

cc: Hon. Kenneth R. Harrigan
(District Representative)

| Printer-friendly page | Send this article to a friend |

World News