Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says soon, Dominicans would not have to travel abroad to earn a bachelors degree.
He told his official swearing-in ceremony at the President’s Office recently, that the construction of a new state-of-the-art State College to be funded by the Peoples Republic of China will ensure that traveling abroad to obtain degrees become a thing of the past.
“In education we have made significant progress. We have already contracted a loan from China for the construction of a new state-of-the-art college. Our hope of taking Dominica to the next level is that our citizens would not have to go out of Dominica to earn a bachelors degree. We have already started the process in nursing and education and by the construction of the college where we will have a modern library; our students would remain here in Dominica,” he added.
He said there are a number of individuals currently doing correspondent programmes online but with government’s new initiative, Dominican students could earn their degree “at home”.
Meantime PM Skerrit also expressed concerns with the health sector.
“In health there are just too many of our citizens who have to travel to Martinique and Guadeloupe and spend thousands of Euros but we want to ensure that this is something of the past,” he said.
Skerrit said government is moving towards having the facilities and manpower 
to improve its health sector.
Hi Everyone,
Most political leaders are judged on their domestic policy initiatives, though Dominica does not have much of a foreign policy demand or competition, the Skerrit government has demonstrated a unique form of pragmatism meant to elevate the concept of good governance in Dominica. Ideally, the idea of a bachelor-degreed university in Dominica is not by itself a fait accompli. The mechanism for this aspiration has to be in-place and activated to sustain such an institution. Students must feel accomplished with universal appeal and cognition upon graduation. Inspite of this parodoxy however, one should look at this as a step in the right direction. Challenges will emerge in its infancy, but the lesson and experience in perfecting its mechanism may produce dividends. “Remember, Dominicans living abroad are still loyal and indebted to Dominica.”
Yes rassulfur, Why are you being aparty pooper? Improving education in Dominica is another step to betterment. The more education that is incorporated the better knowledgeable and wiser we become.
It is so sad that you would be such an anti–dominican. “whatever” there must be somebody to bring us down and we are wondering why we are not improving. well its people like you, Shame on you!
ps. For most of the Dominican that have decided to stay abroad after they have finished their studies, is due to lack of job in DA but for the most part. by choice. for alot of them are doing jobs that is well below their education level (babysitting, housekeeping ect.)
Some of them do not want to pay the loans that they have left behind, and so….
please, stop descriminating.
We need this
While I truly commend the PM for such an effort. I think the first aim should be getting proper accreditation for the current Associate degree program. There are only few schools who recognize this degree. As a result of this many students after spending2 years at the state college still have to do 4 years to get a bachelor’s degree. Therefore b4 establishing a bachelor degree program I think they should focus on improving this current program.
Shelli, accreditation is not given (determined) by a university or educational institution. In fact it is determined by a regional association not only in terms of excellence of quality of education and faculty, but most significantly, the facilities for research and development which are very costly. One of the remarks from a previous Chancellor of UWI that struck me as astounding was the astute observation that with all the local and regional recognition that the university attracts, its graduates have not been able to claim a single scientific invention of any note! It certainly is not for lack of genius or faculty – lack of facilities that compare to even the low class schools in the US is the problem.
The objective of tertiary education is to contribute to solutions applicable local problems in society. Oxford University is universally recognized, but not for engineering and science; so we must choose what the country needs first. What the individual student prefers can be obtained elsewhere at his own expense. Accreditation is a standard that will be set by the same organization that determines whether UWI meets the objectives of its charter or not. This standard further assists in evaluation of credits if one should choose to pursue further studies at an outside institution.
An educated nation is paramount but what is an educated nation without jobs. Obviously Dominican students overseas choose not to return because of the lack of job opportunities and career development. I cannot get excited about the prospects of a tertiary educational institution when there isn’t a comprehensive program in place to support such an institution. My question is -will we provide a university education program for our young people only to seat by and watch these young people migrate to Antigua ,Anguilla, Tortolla or St Marteen upon attainment of their degree.
Will the program managed by the ministry of education?
Accreditation is key. We have and can compete with the best in the world. Let us not sell ourelves short. This should be accepted worldwide or it is a waste of time and money.
YES MR PM YOUR THE BEST THAT HAPPEN TO D/CA GREAT JOB ON THE PAS YEARS AND MANY MORE TO COME. I COMPLIMENT U. AND THAT A GREAT IDEA
It would be nice to be able to get your bachelors degree in Dominica, and not have to spend all the money asscoiated with studying abroad, with that said people ought to bear in mind that accreditation is a very important aspect of higher education, and if we cannot secure accreditation from a reputable institution then all our efforts to award bachelors degrees here would be in vain. So I think we cannot just undertake this venture in isolation, we need to affiliate with a reputable university, I for one would not pay money and spend time trying to obtain a degree that is only recognised by SOME dominican institutions and a FEW bottom of the Barrel Universities in the U.S. or wherever. We have quite a few Dominican academics who would be willing and able to lecture at a local institution (one without all the melee and ro-ro of the current DSC), so I think this is a worthwhile venture that should be executed with the utmost care and consideration.
Good job Pm. Just make sure you place all your desires and request before God Please remember that he is in control. Pplease give him the glory and honor
Building a state-of-the art college in Dominica is a wonderful idea! There are so many gifted, talented and educated Dominicans who are living abroad! Many of them left Dominica, as students, to get a university degree, and did not return after acquiring it! Every country needs a highly educated and skilled workforce in order to be successful culturally and economically!
A new college in Dominica that offers degree courses, especially in the natural sciences, could result in ‘home educated students’ conducting relevant research that would benefit the island.
I would like to see courses in marine biology, botany, horticultural science, geophysics, electrical and mechanical engineering; environmental science, tourism, music, arts and crafts. We have to move away from social science and law degrees, that are not particularly relevant to the economic and cultural development of Dominica.
We need a major overhaul of our primary and secondary education system. We need to shift the focus towards science, tourism, arts and crafts, so we can develop our natural resources and become economically independent in the future!
The development of geothermal electrical energy and its allied technologies have great potential. Geothermal enegy is a natural and permanent part of Dominica. Geothermal science, horticultural science, marine biology, arts and crafts should be complusory topics and subjects of the curriculum in all Dominican elementary and secondary schools. And now that a college will be built in Dominica, these subjects should be the main degrees offered at the college.
If PM Skerrit says so is so!!!!!!!!!!!!
If Jamaica which has the UWI headquartered at Mona (Kingston 7) saw it fit to have its own University – UTech – University of Technology (formerly CAST) then I am all for such a move.
Accreditation will not be a problem!!!!
We will get it from UWI, we will get it from U-Tech, and we will get it from a number of established US Universities and Universities in the United Kingdom like University of London and the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture – IITA.
And if Ross University wants to leave Dominica they will want to leave with positive PR, so they will donate most of their equipment that is already on the island. Oh and another thing…. Ross cannot run away with the buildings that they have in Dominica!!! So that is something we can use and even have students from other islands to get their first degree in Dominica.
Faculty will not be a problem! We have a number of Dominicans who are professors around the world in recognized Universities that will be more than willing to join this August body and some will even come as guest lecturers.
Again people if Skerrit says so then it will come to past. He is a man of his word in big tings for Dominica. We just have to give him patience in the little things like voter ID Cards and sanitizing the electoral list. Progress is slow in these areas but it must come, it bound to come!!!!
The new educated Dominicans will demand it and they will be more radical than me – for we know that once a mind is stretched via education (including common sense and critical thinking) it never takes the original innocent shape ever again and all hell breaks loose after that with compelling questions that must be answered truthfully.
To Rassulfur: Keep your pessimism to yourself and dont spread it around. Thats the reason people why like you continue to develop another man’s country and only think of what you can gain personally. The PM could do the same as you but he is trying to improve life in Dominica while you continue to bring down Dominica country with your negative utterances. Dominica did not give RICH Antigua and Anguila money but did what it had to do when they needed some assistance. Whats your beef??? We were assisted likewise a few years ago. (Sorry. You would not know that as you were wallowing in another’s man country, eating from the crumbs that was fed to you.) Keep enjoying your sweet life whereever you are, and let Dominicans continue to build their country and one day we know we will reach the level of development like the country you now call your home, under the ably leadership of our beloved PM. People like you are just parasitic and waiting to return home to enjoy the sweat of persons you have left behind to toil. We aint going nowhere as we continue to help bring Dominica to a higher level.
Having an educated population is a good thing, but along with that should be a healthy populace.We should try to encourage dedicated doctors that specialize, to work in an expanded health sector, so the thousands of dollars dominicans spend in guadaloupe and martinique for their health services could go to the doctors and ultimately, the treasury with the taxes that come along with that.A four year college is a good start, but we should concentrate on some basics like jobs, an international airport, better and more durable roads, so that we can attract more business -minded entrepreneurs to our beautiful island,” Waitikubuli”.
Hmm, so you say. Lets see. Oh by the way I would be willing to come home and teach IT but you have to pay me well, I hear that you have money giving to RICH Antigua and Anguilla. By the way, what about teh accreditation. DO we want to have a bunch of disenfranchised persons? Who spent a number of their years doing a degree with which they cannot find work because it is not recognized due to the fact that the college has no accreditation? Please give us your take on this.
COOL,,,,,,,And Please always make strides and Extra EFFORTS towards JOB CREATION ….Every step of the way.
This is absolutely The Best move for Dominica.
A Nation That Educates Its People is like a farmer who plants his own food, he will never be hungry…
Self Determination, I love it… Best investment!
I guess the College will be at the Layou River Hotel site. Not a word.
Well done PM, good planning, good idea, you are a man of vision, a man of the present and future. With you at the top, Dominica will go places. God has placed you there to help Dominica move forward. Do not be detered by your detractors, keep seeking for help to build this wonderful country. The nations of the world trust your leadership and prudent money handling. You took Dominica out of debt, and now people are starting to see a little light. You are the best hope of leadership for the country. Education is key to development. That is why our people are voting wise now, and people cannot fool them with rum and nonsense on political platform.
canada
We need an International airport in wesley i hope we can build one together
That’s all good but Cuba has the most educated people but a lack of the basic needs like toilet paper etc…
I suggest we fix the roads and the whole broken system, start from the bottom and fix all the things that your government have neglected over the years. You know what happens when you build on a foundation that is not solid, there is so much to be done but egotism, power and tribal politics have left the country wanting.
I’m all for a university but start with the basics, an education is useless without jobs, people need jobs.
Way to Go PM!
I am praying that The Creators wisdom will be yours as you lead our country. concentrate on health and education of our people. Education that will take us to our full potential.
PM, I have assessed you judgment and I know you will make it happen for people like me to go in search of my degree at home…long live PM, for god has bless you.
PM lets just take it one day at a time,u will succedd,i know u are tryin ur bst for dominicans to be comportable at home.God’s guidiance and protection is on u.
it realy is a burden when someone has to be rushed overseas for medical care,not counting the cost ,we know it wont all happen overnight but it realy would be a step in the right direction
good move pm, an educated nation is a nation poised to succed;