The University of the West Indies Open Campus in Dominica suffered $800,000 in damages due to the passage of Hurricane Maria.
That’s according to the Director of Open Campus Country Sites, Dr. Francis Severin.
Severin was speaking at the Recognition of Graduates Ceremony at the Truth and Grace Fellowship Global Church last week.
“The Open Campus Dominica site sustained over $800,000 of damages during Hurricane Maria,” Dr. Severin said.
He added that while much remains to be done, much progress has been made on the site due to the dedication and commitment of staff and the leadership of the open campus.
The UWI Open Campus Director expressed disappointment that the institution was looted following the Hurricane.
“It was very distressing for us as a not for profit education institution that has made every intent to reach people where they are way beyond the walls of the academy by providing higher quality education at reasonable cost to be looted and plundered by criminals who we compassionately refer to as looters,” he said.
He noted that the actions which followed after the hurricane spoke volumes to the lack of advancement as a civilization.
“I make no apologies in categorizing people who steal computers, laptops, furniture etc. differently from people who desperately perhaps steal foodstuff. I think that there is a moral and qualitative difference here,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Dr. Severin revealed that 246 students are registered in online courses this semester.
“We can report that currently in semester 2 there are 246 students registered in online programmes we started with 376 in late August 2017,” he said.
He added that currently in the face to face programmes, 120 students are enrolled in courses such as Project Management, Supervisory Management, Advance Human Resource and New Fundamentals of Local Government Essentials.
I think it is time the DSC expanded and extended it’s academic offerings to the people of Dominica, and possibly students from other islands. With all the different monetary relief I read about every other day, it would be a shame if the DSC cannot start offering 4 year degrees in the near future. I do not know what has to be done to make this possible, but I hope there is already some thought being given to this, and that the relevant authorities are already planning to move in this direction. We cannot let our grandchildren and their children suffer the same shortcomings that we and our children had to suffer, and are continuing to suffer, where access to higher education is concerned. That would be unfortunate and unforgivable.
Smh just look @the cheap way these structures.Am hoping these scumbag contractors change the bad habits of ripping the people off.
Hmmmm, thought we were to be proud of our LOOTERS!!!!!!