Head of the UWI Open Campus Dominica, Dr. Francis Severin, wants more private sector support in events of an educational nature.
Giving the closing remarks at a CCJ/Privy Council debate between the Dominica State College (DSC) and UWI Open Campus Dominica on Thursday, Dr. Severin said education should be given more priority.
“I am saying to you especially in this period where education institutions are under fire, under siege for want of funding …and that’s unfortunate because we see cheques larger than life being hand delivered for all sorts of events but we don’t see that for educational events,” he lamented.
He said that money is available but priority does not appear to be an issue. “I am one who likes to believe that there is money somewhere but we are probably not prioritizing. Yes, things are thin and the economy is in reverse but I feel that our private sector for instance should give more to education,” he noted.
Severin also pointed out that educational institutions are ‘hanging on for life’ and there are ‘some luxuries we cannot afford.’
“We are fighting for our very lives, for existence, but we cannot afford at this point in time the luxury of despair… and looking at the young people debate tonight and listening to them, I certainly have no despair …in fact I am experiencing a rapid, a very profound sense of peace,” Severin remarked.
What a profound and timely observation! hope the right people do something about changing our priorities in this country and along with the private sector do something to bring about some kind financial ease to the institutions, bearing in mind an educated people are a better,happier people.
Let me make two comments here:
1. There are larger-than-life cheques also going to education, training and development in the private sector but these do not often make the news. And while my dear friend, Dr. Severin, may have focussed his delivery on institutional education, more often than not the private sector funds on-the-job training, continuing professional development, core training, and other interventions targetted directly at capacity and performance inprovement. So rather than disagree with the good doctor, I believe he may be correct on a possible comparative lower amount going from the private sector to institutional education than that going to other providers of education and training, but the point needs to be made here that, for the private sector, funds for education are substantially swallowed up in care training.
2. “The economy is in reverse.” The good doctor could not have been singling out the private sector when he inserted this line in his statement. The economy is a macro organism, led and directed by the State. And if the words “led and directed” and thought to be too controlling, then “heavily influenced” is the substitute. So, was Mr. Severin also telling us something about stewardship in the other sector?
I meant “core” training and not care training.
What time of day is it Achille? You haven’t got government work to do a la productivity? nah It can’t be you on DNO commenting. Somebody either using your name, or using you to pass message.
Wait, he is doing his job providing facts on private sector in response to a major article on a major news medium. This aspect of his job can be referred to as Public Relations or Information Services or any heading that suggests the dissemination of critical information. Take your pick.
Why dont you comment on the content of Severin’s and Joseph’s information? You are such a typical Dominican focusing on whipping up village drama instead of engaging in healthy intelligent discussion and exchange.
Way to go Dr.Severin! You are the man to lead Dominica. Continue looking into the interest of education in Dominica. We are ptoud of you.
Point well taken. You are a sincere man, and a true patriot. You can differentiate right from wrong and wrong from right. God bless you, sir.
Well said Doc. An inside out, back to front and upside down country.