Minster for Education, Octavia Alfred has said Dominica needs education to fully contribute to sustainable development and to the psychosocial development of students.
Alfred made this statement in her International Day of Education speech which is observed every year on January, 24th to celebrate the role of education for peace and development.
The United Nations General Assembly first celebrated International Day of Education on January 24th 2018. Yesterday was the 4th anniversary of its founding. This year’s theme was “Changing course, transforming education.”
“We need education to fully contribute to sustainable development. We need education to fully contribute to the psychosocial development of our students. For instance, by integrating environmental education or the civics curriculum in all curriculums and by training teachers in these fields,” Alfred noted.
She said this year’s international day of education will be a platform to showcase the most important transformations that have to be nurtured, to realize everyone’s fundamental right to education and build a more sustainable inclusive and peaceful future.
“It will generate debate around how to strengthen education as a public endeavor and common good, how to steer the digital transformation, support teachers, safeguard the planet and unlock the potential in every person to contribute to collective well-being and our shared home,” the minister stated.
The Minister went on to highlight the importance of education in order to fully contribute to sustainable development through the forging of a new social contract for education as called for by the UNESCO report for education released last November.
“We need to repair past injustices and orient the digital transformation around inclusion and equity. We need education to fully contribute to sustainable development, we need education to fully contribute to the psychosocial development of our students,” she noted. “For instance, by integrating environmental education for the civic curriculum in all curriculums and by training teachers in these fields.”
Alfred took the opportunity to highlight the work of the officers at the Ministry of Education, principals and teachers at all levels from early childhood to tertiary education.
“I thank you for the effort that you have made to ensure that our children continue learning in a time like this. We know that Dominica is forging ahead to ensure quality education for all as we work on implementing Universal Early childhood education.”
She noted that Dominica is already engaged in universal primary education and universal secondary education and added that the country will continue to do its best to ensure that every secondary child leaves school with a skill.
According to information from en.unesco.org without inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong opportunities for all, countries will not succeed in achieving gender equality and breaking the cycle of poverty that is leaving millions of children, youth and adults behind.
It further stated that today, 258 million children and youth still do not attend school; 617 million children and adolescents cannot read and do basic math; less than 40% of girls in sub-Saharan Africa complete lower secondary school and some four million children and youth refugees are out of school.
“Their right to education is being violated and it is unacceptable,” UNESCO states.
Those are some big empty words coming from someone whose mouth often leads her astray. Madam Minister might do well to consider that keeping things simple has its merits, especially when it comes to education. Why not focus on the proven, basic, tangible building blocks of education instead of spewing abstract and meaningless buzzwords.
@IBO, just to let you know that my “smart” comment was in no way meant to belittle Mr. Julius. He might be a great individual, just not ready at this point to occupy a seat in parliament. My comment was actually meant for you, one of his biggest supporters. You keep referring to the minister as Lady Pampalam, in your opinion incapable of penning anything of substance therefore I was only trying to remind you of the individual you endorsed.
It’s fair game to criticize the contents of the speech but to say without proof that it was not penned by her is not right.
In any event, what difference does it make whether she wrote the speech or not? Presidents use speech writers, Prime Ministers use speech writers so what was the big deal if the minister read from a prepared speech. You are knowledgeable enough to know executives use speech writers all the time. Leave those silly comments for folks who don’t know any better.
” Minster for Education, Octavia Alfred has said Dominica needs education to fully contribute to sustainable development and to the psychosocial development of students.”(Octavia Alfred).
You see, the English language when executed appropriately can exposed the intelligence of the author; however, when people are repeaters of scrips written by others, it also exposes their lack of comprehension of what they read: i.e.; to some people that in the quote above may seem to make sense, to others the rhetoric is laughable.
“Psychological Development implies that psychological development is a dynamic, and constructive process, of which the outcome cannot be known prior to an event, nor by examining the individuals, and social context separately from one another.
I would hope the so called minister of education would analyze what perhaps she wrote to discover the nonsense she has spoken.
On the other hand the term “education” simple means the process of receiving or giving…
Cont:
On the other hand the term “education” simple means the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school of higher learn, such as a college or university; if she suggest the developing of a new theory and practice of teaching; at college and university level, that would have made sense!
Now, in terms of sustainable development; its a well know fact that can be achieved by somewhat restricting human activities!
Technological development input should be effective; the rate of consumption should not exceed the rate of salvation (” preservation or deliverance from harm, ruin, or loss”). And in regards to renewable resources, the rate of consumption should not exceed the rate of production.
Sustainable development is “the overarching paradigm of the United Nation: The concept of sustainable development was described by the 1987 Bruntland Commission Report.
It is not the brain child of this woman Octavia Roosevelt Skerrit Puppet!
Mrs Alfred just needs to resign. She is not suited for this position or work. You too out of place to tell young students to go and shake their pampalm. In my eyes as a student, you not even my minister of education for me.
Have you critics heard of ‘speech writers’? It is a very common practice to have them as part of your staff. All top officials, be it in government or the private sector use them therefore it’s no big deal if the minister was reading off a prepared document. It’s important to be knowledgeable on the subject you’re presenting but not necessarily to have written the document. A good executive receives the briefing and then presents.
Lastly, can you imagine someone like “HANDBAG” penning his own material? I can’t even phantom the thought of that occuring.
Mark, why deliver a blow below the belt to such a humble, caring being as the beloved Handbag. You could defend your position without those unkind words about this most personable gentleman.
Handbag has never misused the state assets; never indulge himself in anything untoward; he’s a law-abiding, productive citizen; wants the best for his country.
Mr. Mark, stop passing those disparaging comments about a brother who is not in public office pilfering the country’s resources.
Given the opportunity, Handbag would have seized on that opportunity to start pilfering the country’s resources. Thank God, he will never be accorded such an opportunity. I cannot imagine Handbag writing a thesis on anything that would captivate the attention of the world. Handbag is just another bulldust. The only thing Handbag can pen is pegging his clothes on the line outside. We call them as we see them. Talking about agriculture was booming under the stewardship of the hairy nostrils of Peter Carbon. Boy, you are the one he needs to be institutionalized. I guess the Treasury was booming also under the stewardship of Julie Timothy. That is exactly why Skerrit is modernizing the PMH, just for people like you.
I insist that Handbag would have been a much more productive parliamentarian than cognitive-vacant Melissa. Melissa’s toolbox is empty. The lady is an intellectual deadweight.
@ Mark…Did you say “phantom”. Well, well, well. What school did you attend?
Handbag must be laughing at you, smart baby. O my. No wonder you’re a Laborite. Your leader can’t spell either.
Be easy on him as he got confused with ‘phantom’ and ‘fathom’ in his eagerness to defend his demigod Roosevelt.
That is just like actors in a movie or in a play Mark. Are you seriously saying our ministers are actors and not even very good ones. Just saying what someone else write for them then. That is for morons Mark and I really don’t want you tell us that we have morons for Ministers.
Lady Bonnie Pampalam just read a speech which was written and handed to her. The wording of the message clearly indicates that she is incapable of penning such.
Do you know the reason(s) Dominica is the least developed of all the politically independent jurisdictions in the Eastern Caribbean? It’s the asinine renegade at the top of the food chain and his grossly unqualified, ductile ignoramuses like this present Minister of Education. No other political party in the world would have given this lady a ministerial position in its Cabinet. Giving her this most important portfolio can be considered treasonous.
Too many square pegs are in round holes in the present maladministration. The DLP is a real and present danger to the existence of Dominica.
A psycho being social, who would fit that bill?
Unless education focuses on creativity, as against exam orientated rote learning, we will be getting nowhere.
Are you sure she said these words, these sure are some big words for a woman who said go and shake your pam pa la. How she is the minister of education I have no idea. Dominica we are in big trouble.
Those are my words. They are not quoted from the Minister.
But otherwise I agree with your comment.
The statement did not originate with this most unsuited Education Minister in the universe. Someone prepared this script for her to read.
How did Pampalam secure this job? She pledged complete loyalty to Robin’ Hood. This cabal is a concoction of the worst Dominica has to offer (liars, fools, gluttons, rogues).
In my humble opinion we need both Roger. The exams are there to measure the competences the students. They need not necessarily be in writing but somehow they must be demonstrable in a measured form.
In my opinion I feel Mrs Alfred should be made the minister of Health so she would probably read some good books on health, weight loss and wellness. I find that would be more profitable for Dominicans than to see her in Education where no one thinks she is suited for. By far the worse education minister in the entire history of Dominica and that makes her very unappealing to listen to
Such kinda words… shorten the comment next time and just say this ministry is a living irony where the head cant even read properly. So that suggestion is moot.
@The Eyes have it
What are you saying ? Bonnie Pampalam is digging her grave with her mouth? When we are young we grow vertically. When we are in the sunset age of our lives we tend to grow horizontally.