Education Minister Jorien Wuite, her cabinet and staff members at an introductory meeting with school managers.
PHILIPSBURG–Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS) Jorien Wuite and members of her cabinet embarked on Monday, January 22, on a series of introductory meetings with “critical stakeholders” that are expected to continue over the next few weeks.
According to a press release, Wuite found it critical that her first meeting be with the school managers of the public schools. The meeting was held in the presence of Public Schools Division head Glenderlin Holiday and acting head Marcellia Henry.
Wuite informed the management staff of the status of the Ministry’s Resilience Plan (MRP) and provided them with an update as to recovery funds and insurance monies. The school managers were encouraged to speak about the social wellbeing of their teachers and administrative staff, as well as what, if any, post-Hurricane Irma challenges they were still dealing with.
The school managers said the immediate need for critical structural repairs relating to overall safety and staff security was still a big concern for most public schools. The safeguarding of investments such as furniture and school materials was also an area of concern.
Wuite said the Ministry would be looking at avenues through which the repairs could be executed, such as through capital investments or insurance claim disbursements. She strongly encouraged managers to make use of every alternative avenue of funding, especially through initiatives such as SXM Doet.
Also highlighted was the necessity for improved coordinated psychological intervention and follow-up care for teachers and students, and the need to sensitise parents on the importance of following through with care directives for their children.
Wuite assured school managers that, through collaborative efforts, sessions and/or workshops dedicated to meeting the psychological needs of the staff, teachers, students and parents would be planned and executed.
After listening to the presentations Wuite thanked the school managers for their candidness and applauded their ingenuity in mitigating some of the schools’ challenges.
She shared her own readiness to partner with them and their staff to begin the road to recovery and the lessening of the challenges through continued collaboration.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/73171-minister-meets-with-public-school-heads
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