Education sector fastest to recover after Hurricane Maria says St. Jean

St. Jean (centre) at the youth rally

When it comes to recovery, the education sector has shown the fastest signs of recovery among all other sectors following Hurricane Maria, according to Education Minister Petter St Jean.

At the recently held national youth rally, St Jean said 100% of Dominican students who were displaced by the hurricane, were able to return to classrooms.

“Within the education system we can boast of a remarkable recovery that involved reconstruction works at several of our schools, the creation of emergency plans in all schools…and support to our teachers and students to contend with the impact of disaster,” he said.

He said since that time, the government has completed extensive reconstruction and renovation works on a number of schools and added that they have received a commitment from the government of China to construct five new schools.

Furthermore, St Jean said as of September 13th 2019, six hundred and fifty-five young Dominicans received approvals from the government to pursue studies in various fields amounting to over EC$18 million dollars.

St Jean also used the opportunity to commend the performance of students in both internal and external examinations over the past two years despite the challenges.

“I am even more gratified of the resilient spirit that you the young people of Dominica displayed at your individual schools to maintain a sound culture of learning and your response to the new challenges and threats posed by climate change,” he said.

St Jean also commended teachers saying, “our teachers…are the fuel that propels the engine of our economic development”.

The education minister said all schools in Dominica raised over EC$20,000 towards the Bahamians relief fund from their ‘Dress Down Day’ activity which was held a few weeks ago.

The 2019 youth rally was held under the theme- ‘saluting resilience and rejuvenation two years on’.

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9 Comments

  1. Pipo
    November 8, 2019

    You did not include the largest educational institute on the island did you Minister. Ross University has disappeared altogether. Maybe your dept. not responsible for that but the Govt. is and you are a member of that government, a cabinet member even.

  2. Sunshine
    November 8, 2019

    Dominicans complain for every damn thing. When it’s good say its good.

  3. Gouvelma
    November 7, 2019

    My mother said if you don’t have anything good to say keep your mouth shut. St Jean has the educational plant in Salisbury recovered since the hurricane or has it been deliberately neglected? Has the Morne Jaune Government School been rebuilt? Remember you said that there was a commitment for the construction of that school. What’s the condition of the Goodwill Secondary School? St Jean you were a Christian. Note I say were. Search your conscience and come back and speak to us.

  4. Concerned citizen
    November 7, 2019

    That’s because schools were already tumble down, full of damp and holes. This guy is a disgrace.

  5. Donkey Whole
    November 7, 2019

    So what’s your point Me. St. Jean? Are you lamenting the fact your ministry was the first to recover and yet you were the first one the donkey cut off from the fold? Maybe the donkey is against recovery? But no wonder a donkey in the Bible is called an A.s.

  6. Donkey Whole
    November 7, 2019

    So what’s your point Me. St. Jean? Are you lamenting the fact your ministry was the first to recover and yet you were the first one the donkey cut off from the fold? Maybe the donkey is against recovery? But no wonder a donkey in the Bible is called an As..

  7. dissident
    November 7, 2019

    I must make a case for de neglect of the primary school that catapulted me to high school college and University…..I refer to the Goodwill secondary School at pottersville.
    To my mind the steel frame structure appears to be sound…. even if for minor repairs
    That old dilapidated plywood structure in the school Yard needs to go
    CLEAN DE PLACE AND REBUILD DE SCHOOL FOR DE CHILDREN SAKE!!!

  8. Swety
    November 7, 2019

    St Jean doh tired lie. What about the schools that flood whenever there is little.shower. smh

  9. November 7, 2019

    When are we about to build the state-of-the-art public library at the same location with public restrooms for users and a children’s section? It is an eyesore to Fort Young Hotel, the State House across the street, and DBS and the Parliament building. Let us get it going, sir.

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