Education Minister Petter Saint Jean said today government will not be repealing plans to send Dominican students to the African country of Morocco to pursue studies.
Government has been told to rethink its intentions because of anti-regime protests sweeping across North Africa. But even so, 15 Dominicans will leave the island for Morocco before the end of this week, Saint Jean has confirmed.
He told a program on state-owned DBS Radio government is aware of the turmoil taking place in Africa and is only keeping to its pledge of seizing education opportunities for Dominicans.
“No young Dominican is forced into going to study. The process is transparent, it is open, applications are submitted by the individuals, the selection process is convened, the individuals are selected,” he said.
St. Jean continue, “What we are seeking to do and to address is the bread and butter issues as concerns every Dominican family, and this government will not apologize for creating opportunities whether in North Africa, North America or East Asia.”
He however admitted that in the event of any occurrences that government considers threatening for the students, necessary action will be taken promptly “irrespective of what country or region”.
We are a thrid world contry we must realize that the world is and will become smaller in the years to come, so why is mr peter trying to fool us. Do you think that he would have sent any of his children to this contry, come on think we must open our minds the media has help us use it to our advantage , i look at the leader of lybia speak today, he sounded like our government always blaming some one else, please open you eyes education is not runnnig. Dont risk the lives of these innocent young people for the price of glory.
I try to educate myself a little about Morocco before I made my comment. From what I have read and seen so far, it seems to be a beautiful place, and the government system seems a little liberal, but their educational system is in an early development state- I was not impressed with the educational system. They claim to have the oldest university (since 859) but illiteracy rate is very high. I also took a look at some of the topics of the publications listed on the university’s site and the majority was something about ISLAMIC. Not that I have anything against that, but it just seems to be heavily religious. If I were those students, I would really do some serious background check before I venture out in that far-away land. Student abroad can be very tough isolation- I studied in America, and I don’t think I would have made it if America was not such a ‘familiar place’ to us in Dominica, and there was not a lot of people around that were of Caribbean decent.
I just copied and placed a few things that jumped out to me (in random order) – of course, you might have to read the whole document to get the whole context:
1) Curriculum of especially the business schools is outdated and needs to be revised according to the changing demands of the labor market.
2) Internal efficiency is also low with high dropout and repetition rates.
3) In Morocco, the adult illiteracy rate is still at a high at around 40percent in 2007, despite concerted efforts being made since independence in 1956 to reduce the rate of illiteracy which at that time was 87percent.In absolute terms the illiterate adults have grown from six to nine million persons .Morocco is one of the five Arab countries in which 70 percent of the some 70 million illiterate adults in the Arab world are concentrated. In rural areas and for female gender the problem is even worse; three quarters of women were considered to be illiterate in 2004[19].
4) Morocco has six universities. Al-Qarawiyin University at Fès, founded in 859, is reputed to be the oldest university in the world; it was reorganized in 1962–63 as an Islamic university, supervised by the Ministry of Education. The first modern Moroccan university, the University of Rabat (now the Muhammad V University), was opened in 1957. Other universities are Muhammad bin Abdallah (founded 1974), in Fès; Hassan II (1975), Casablanca; Cadi Ayyad (1978), Marrakech; and Muhammad I (1978), Oujda. There are about two dozen colleges and conservatories. In 1997, all institutions of higher education had a combined total of 311,743 students, 41% of whom were female.
everything said is a bit too late.The students are entering harm’s way tomorrow morning
good job mr minister.But i think you need to ensure that the money spent on teachers in dominica is well spent.Case in point pss. this particular teacher is Alwayseeeeeeee out of school during the schoolday ,white car parked at benjamins park ,or at purple turtle,or cabrits .This is not what my gov is paying this teacher for.From reports that other teachers give this has been going on for years and the ministry knows about it but does nothing.
let petter st jean go first an then our children will follow
I really do not see what all this hype is about. I’m sure that the students are aware of the situation. I hardly believe that the minister and/or the police will be forcing them to board the plane or arresting them if they do not.
Sometimes I wonder why people like you would write such base comments without analyzing a situation from just the surface! Opportunity = Choice… (It’s not always so simple)!!!
The students are placing their faith in the Government who should have more resources/contacts than they do to stay on top of the state of affairs.
Do you know how difficult it is to receive a university education as a blue collar worker, or as the child of a blue collar worker?
The OPPORTUNITY alone is temptation enough; however that does not mean that these students have to be thrown into this situation even slightly dangerous. Especially so far away from home!!!!
Congrats Folks and for you sakes; I hope the area where you all will be is safe enough.
When our students needed help in Venezuela (next door) our Government remained SILENT and UNRESPONSIVE. They took no NO NO action and had to leave these children who felt threatened to the mercy of a kind concerned businessman. And now Petter says that they will help our children in Morocco if they are in trouble. Who is Petter kidding? Open your souls Dominicans! Shame on ARROGANCE!
well well i guess his children will be on that plane heading to morocco? i wonder?? please dominicans i think our leaders are goin madddd!!!!! we can do emergency pull outs of our citizens when pupu hit the fans?
I think we should take the radio urgently!!!!! Sendin fifteen innocent souls to Morocco with the intent to bring dem back in d event of turmoil!this can be avoided!!!don’t send dem!there wil be better opportunities!!!we need to do somethin dominicans!the students are to leave this week!mr pepper y don’t u send ur own kids?
no one is forcing anyone to go on that plane.
Come on people do you really think that students in the US fare any better, a number of our citizens have lost their lives prematurely there. There is only so much any government can do for its people, after everything is said and done, it is a personal choice for students whether or not they accept the scholarship.
congrates MR ST Jean, u are trying your best, the negative ones will never support u, but do your job by the grace of god the children will be fine, what ever your govt do it is never in uwp favor,the grapes are always sour for them, hold strong brother.
doin wat job sari sari.by sendin students out in danger..u nt seein wat hapenin dese days..u dnt luk at tv.i dnt expect u 2..cuz ur a sole supporter of st jean..he wld never send his children dere..even me, i wld want d opportunity 2 go and study but with d current situitation he sld nt allow any student 2 go dere..if sumtng hapens wat wld b d outcum now..wat wil he den say??? u need 2 tink of plp nt only urself.dam selfish…
YES- he will send a c-130 transport plane for them–St.Jean does not know anything.
God will take care of them if they get in harm’s way. -not St. Jean- he forgot his bible- but not in Thou who art Skerrit’. The ‘copawaysoe’ know nothing’ St. Jean does not know what is talking about.
Ai yah yai. Again we have to say thank you to DNO for helping us share our lack of education and ignorance with the rest of the world. Some of us think like we just woke up from under a rock this morning.. and we call ourselves “educators”.
By the time we realize what we owe those countries who we be-friend, ang give us things, even when their own people are dying of hunger and suffering it will be too late. Dominicans we need to wake up and start asking ourselves a question about our givers.. or we will pay substantially.
Send the Dominican children to help with the jihad
Nothing wrong with a little jihad, a jihad a day keeps the fear of enemies away
That is the Dominican culture, a bunch of cowards, afraid to protest, afraid to stand for their rights, no matter what you do to Dominicans they will stay there, take the oppression; grumble amongst themselves and talk politics for the entire year and do nothing.
If a Dominican gets a job and he is underpaid, he says, ‘it better dan nofing wee.’
If the lights go up they say, ‘bondie everyfing going up and salaries doesn’t go up.’
The Kalinago people protested the other day for their playing field, they started working on it though. You have to do legitimate jihad and protests to get your point across, just sit like fools behind a computer and insult Islam!
Look St. Vincent getting it’s international airport! Don’t unite, don’t discuss issues like mature people, just sit there and bray like donkeys about Morocco, Iran etc. Don’t research, just follow American media like sheep.
I support your comments to wards the begining but you and your islam, we do not support that down here in D/ca.
@ Brain Damage: You don’t even support the messiah or the bible to begin with, many have been fooled by American media. Thus I do expect resistance towards Islam. When people are fed up with the rise in crime and corruption. When people fed up with all the sewo yet yearn for spirituality, they will come to Islam. Islam is here to stay and it will grow whether you would like that or not.
Prevention is better than cure senor ministro.
your an idiot,i hope these parents do not send children to morrocco,read the history it is corrupt also.
Way to go Pepper.
St jean are you guys crazy. Countries are pulling their citizens out of Libya and you guys are planning to send students over to this war zone this week. What is wrong with you guys. I know people personally who came back over the last weekend. I was told that people are afraid to get out of their homes for the fear of getting shot by mercenaries and snipers. Mercenaries are out there asking questions hoping to shoot because of the wrong answer.
The airports are chaotic ; the place is a war zone and things are getting worse. I would strongly advise these students to stay put. It is not worth the trip for now. If the opportunity is there when every thing settles then go for it.
I understand your concern for the safety of the students but they are talking about morocco here and you mention Libya. Aren’t those different countries?
I agree with you 100%. As we all know this part of the world is currently unstable and sending our youths to Morocco right now is a rather unwise decision on the part of our gov’t.
UK, US, terror code is raised, you want to pull everyone there also?
Morrocco is a different country, different situation, the situation in Libya cannot even be compared to Tunsia, or Egypt.
Sot no one is talking about the UK or the US.
Mr. doing like he has a say in negotiating with foreign countries…..
MOrrocco……………plz……….wat education dere have………………..send people to study proper education………..to build the falling apart country…………………y d prime minister never go and study dere!!!!!!!!!
so disrespectful
here’s a link with some of the Universities in Morocco …
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_in_Morocco
beggars are not chosers.that is how we come lmao
Is this man sick, turmoil in the country and because you want to complete an education pledge students are sent in arms way, hope you are prepared to bear the consequences and pray the students will be safe
MR ST JEAN , GOVT WILL TAKE CARE OF THE STUDENTS IF THERE IS AN THREATENING OCCURENCE OR SITUATION ? YOU MEAN THE SAME WAY YOU TOOK CARE OF THEM IN VENEZUELA !!!!!!!!!!! YOU BARELY TAKE CARE OF THEM WHEN IT COMES TO COMITMENT TO PAY TUITION FEES , YOU EXPECT PEOPLE TO BELIEVE YOU NOW ?
All you crazy and these parents blind. these people in war killing amoung themselves and all you sending people children there under the idea of bread and butter issues? dominicans so hungry that they have to risque their lives in a man country?. Come better than that man St Jean.
Good luck students.Hope you know that none of the schools are recognized.y are we keeping that part a secret
BOY I LOVE MY MINISTER. ONLY IGNORAMOST LIKE EDISON WOULD NOT WANT YOU TO SEND OUR CHILDREN TO STUDY. HE FORGET HIS PARTY SAID MONEY IN OUR POCKET, FOOD ON OUR TABLE AND EDUCATION FOR OUR CHILDREN? THE POLICIES OF THE UWP IS IF ITS NOT ME THEN ITS NOT GOOD.
You call yourself an Educator? Kwapo dead “went extinct” i hope you’re not educating our youth.
1. This is 2011, it is poor taste and disrespectful to ty
pe all in caps on someone’s website
2. Are you not following the violence, turmoil, and level of protest that is going on in that currupt Moroco at this time?
3. Like the rest of Skerrit’s friends, China, Venesuela, and the rest of the commmunist gang who vicitimise their people. the people of Moroco are fedup.
Not sending students to Moroco is not a “Edison” thing.. it is a humanitarian thing.. to stay out of there at this time.
Educate youself please.
Educator symbolizes what his DLP party and followers are all about. If we continue to embrace such ignorance, I have no doubt in my mind that Dominica will continue to remain in a state of denial.