Dominica’s current education minister Peter St Jean has been described as the “worst education minister ever” by a former holder of the post, Dominica Freedom Party’s (DFP) Herbert Sabaroche.
The DFP official made the claim at a People’s Budget event organized by a group of “patriots” comprising the opposition United Workers Party (UWP) and other interest groups united against what they describe as the “corrupt Skerrit administration”.
“That is the worst education minister that has held that position in Dominica – he talks glibly, he talks with many words, but where are the policies and the action to go with those words,” former education minister Sabaroche said to applause.
On Tuesday morning outside parliament, Education Minister St Jean brushed aside Sabaroche’s claim.
“It is the direct opposite,” St Jean told DNO.
The minister said Dominica is a democracy and Sabaroche is within his rights to express his opinion.
“But I think it is evident for all to see that at this time in the history of Dominica, education has never been on a high as it is at this time in the history of Dominica,” St Jean said.
He urged Sabaroche “to compare the performance of the government of Dominica and the minister of education against that which he did when he served”.
“Boy, Get some education!! Be of some value to the Nation!!”
Instead of releasing idle parole on Parliament steps!
So why has there been a failure to give support to an education institution who as been seeking help for the last three years and being turned down everytime WITHOUT a plausible explanation? I am really at a loss to understand what’s going on.
I think you people are making claims with no reasoning. Give me four solid reasons why Mr Saint Jean is not doing his job. Without being political…
My exact same thought lately, just not mpressed by that St. jean guy. I find Skerritmismsomething else to make someone that did not even have a tertiary education background minister for education.
Sabaroche you were once in the very same position.Before critising lay your cards on the table.
I wish Pierre Charles never died…
Sabaroche is very right!
The education department in Dominica has demonstrated that it has no clue as to what to do to educate and discipline the students of today.
its is not just a few students getting A’s. The discipline of the mass the the most important.
As we can see, the few A’s are leaving for the US, Canada, UK, etc. and what we are left with?????
St. Jean instead of giving maypwee got to the drawing board sir…
The government schools are worst affected,bullying, fights, obscene language galore,a proliferation of weapons,drugs, pornographic materials.Principals sitting or hiding in their offices. It’s just “bullock”…
I SUPPORT SABAROCHE 100 000 000 000 000 000 000%…HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS SAYING.
But in a failed state what do you expect?
GOSPEL TRUTH SABBIE.Love you brother. The truth will hurt.
The minister cannot make students A’s, they can get A’s hopefully with he help of their parents, and teachers, or if the student themselves are very bright.
A child don’t have to get an A to pass their exam, there ae students who get B’s and C’s and they do quite well at college and university.
No minister cannot make a student get A’s. We have to concentrate on taking care of our children and their well being, instead of always blaming some politician when they don’t do well.
There are teachers who teach and they have all their A’s, but they still cannot teach as they should. It is notbecause they are not qualified academically, but they do not have the ability to teach what they know. Some are not mature enough to handle the pressure of the teenagers, and hence, they fail to even keep some students in the classroom, especially those bullies.
When I went too school, there were many bullies, and groups, that always fought, but none of them ere expelled, they were punished, and the school kept in touch with their parents. When the school and parents work together, students behave better, and put more effort into their school work. Let us take better care of our children, and stop blaming everybody else when they don’t do well.
With all due respect to you Set Up you have clearly missed the point . Yes the Ministry or the Minister cannot make children get As but the necessary mechanisms need to be put in place in schools for students to feel comfortable and for them to apply themselves. There lies the responsibility of the Ministry of which the Minister is head to put measures in place to train teachers (all teachers and not a selected few). There needs to be a certain level of consultation with teachers when implementing certain programmes and policies.Sometimes Ministry officials just introduce programmes to schools and teachers have no idea how to use them.
Come on for our students to do well there must be collaboration. The Minister is trying but there still a lot which need attention.
Really??? Should the Ministry of Education be blamed for the Brain-drain going on in this country? Dont you think the ministry should be first commended for the mass number of people being educated, enough so that there is a brain drain issue??
You cannot pin the incidence of children neglecting their education and failing to excel on the ministry of education; because all the resources are made available by the ministry. Plus we have the Universal secondary education where by all students are granted and opportunity to attend secondary school. The ministry has made these windows available, and all the students are left to do is excel.
Lets not cast a blind eye to the increased number of students that are studying abroad.
I think Mr St. Jean is doing an excellent job. And that we cannot blame the failure of our children to grasp these educational opportunities and make the best use of them on the ministry of education. You can bring a horse to the water, but you cannot force it to drink!! And Mr. St.Jean is doing his best, and bringing alot of horses to water!!
Sabroach On drugs??
What does Sabbie has to offer Dominica. Sabbie was a seating minister in the 2005 general elections. he was and still is a very active meber of his commmunity – a community wporker indeed. Sabbie is much better educated and articulate even though he froths at the mouth than the person who beat him (Toulon). Sabbie should be ashamed to be still dabbling in politics today. he has nothing to offer.
so what u saying is st jean that making the kids go do or sell drugs even there is work and the people doesn,t want to work what can u do they like easy fast money
Just look at the state of the Dominica Grammer School and its surroundings and you will conclude how successful the Ministry of education is- be mindful that school is suppose to be the premier school in Dominica- but I can tell you that is the worst looking Grammer School in the entire OECS; What a shame – but where are all the prestigous grads the school produced over time ain’t they ashame of how the school and its surroundings look- the appearance is not fitting of a school. What a shame and that was suppose to be one of the four pillar projects you know. Dominicans schooled in lies again.
Come on man, if you want to talk about Schools and surroundings, what about the one in San Sauver, Salybia, plus the new State College that is coming up in Stockfarm. Get real man, stop being ridiculous with you all’s claims
Trust me . I personally think Sonia Williams would do a much better job than the present minister of education.
Sonia did very little in her time in office.
I am a teacher and i agree with mr sabroache. all st jean does is talk and attend functions
AMEN!!!
them days some men act worst than women,wat a shame.long time ago that was the way some women behave,but it seems the men take over
Sabbie keep on calling a spade “A Spade”.
You are da- well correct in what you said.
I have been a teacher from 1975. This means that I have worked under MANY ministers of Education. I am also a PARENT. God blessed me with 6 children. They were all raised with the same parents in the same home and same values but when I compare my first four with my last two, I wonder? The first four are easy going, obedient, hard working and the know what they want in life, the last two are totally different. Can I blame the school system, my parenting skills or the era in which they were born? SOME BODY TELL ME PLEASE BECAUSE CHILDREN COME FROM HOMES.SHOULD I HAVE THEM HOME SCHOOLED SO THAT THE OTHERS DONT INFLUENCE THEM?
Politicians must not behave like children to make a point. Let the electorate judge. The answer will be demonstrated loudly by that X.
to peter pepper there is no comparism to be made in the DFP time we had proper education not this rubbish we have now where all those laplaine children come to town to waste time, money and other resources. this DLP has killed our education system. and yes pepper must also talk about how he can come to the aide of the young boy whom carries his surname for posession of canabis. i would believe this would be a matter for the police not the minister for education!
A leading high School like DGS from a total of 240 students 160 did not graduate that makes educaton on a high under yr watch, go back to the drawing board listen to those who have a lot to offer in terms of how the education system can best suit the needs of the masses of youth on Island and make the necessary changes cause EDUICATION change lives.
There is a general criteria which one needs in order to graduate…is not St.Jean that didnt make the students graduate! obviously they didnt meet the criteria!
Sabie have been in an intoxicated state for a long time now so its diificult for him to see and understand the good things that are happening in our edustion system. For example: emphasis on early childhood education, advancement of the D/ca State College, security free loans and low interest rates for students, student grants, scholarships for students in different disciplines across the globe and the list goes on!!!
This government is the worse government in the history of our nation period. Just a bunch of V.A.T. Useless , bloated cabinet with advisors gathering huge pay checks for doing nothing. All that said the country is in a state unprecedented.
By the way V.A.T does not necessarily mean Value Added Taxes. Figure it out.
i agree completely. guess his obsession with filling Ron Green’s shoes was harder than he thought. yea u finally got the position. lets see u follow, Mr Education Minister. where’s your focus now? guess we’ll start hearing bout them again as election yr approaches.
Pot should not be calling kettle black. Sabrouche biggest acheivement was being thrown out of parliament by UWP. Now he shamelessly sleeping in bed with Eddoe. I bet is UWP that have to shut up Sabby once and for all.
We have sunk to a new low when the education of our youth and population is now in the political arena……..God help Dominica. St. Jean do you think if you go back to the pulpit you will help with the less politicization of our education?. Frankly I have the outmost respect for Sabi and I think he is an honorable man and knows what he is talking about.
Although I agree with Sabaroche’s statement it is evident that the Ministers have not stepped up within their delegated areas to propose any policies that will assist in developing Dominica. They handle their jobs as if they were shopkeepers at retail stores… :-l and their incompetence shows… But it isn’t just the current ministers but ministers before as well….
There isn’t any hope for growth (within our capacity) having “such incompetent people” steering us ahead….
DNO is it so hard to understand that the man’s name is Petter Saint-Jean. Amazing how little regard you have for people’s names.
Both St. Jean and Sabroache are right, education is high, very high (intoxicated) from the red concoction it has been swallowing over the past year and all because of the most incompetent minister it has seen St. Jean
Further to my above statement, the level of drug use among school students have increased significantly so education must be on a high
Are you blaming the Min and or his Govt for the increase in smoking among young pple? COME ON!! When are we going to blame the parents and their lethargic attitude towards parenting? Is not the Ministers responsibility to ensure that parents and families bring up their children in a way that they do not part of it when they are grown. It is theirs to provide the facilities for proper education etc
Sorry but the drug problem has nothing to do with education,you are offered something you either take it or leave it,it’s a matter of choice.
The lazy lifestyle and rebellious behavior shouldn’t be condone or excused,the Americanization of our society has given birth to these social issues.
Wasting your life smoking weeds while hanging out on the block has nothing to do with your education but the friends that you keep and the choice that you make. That’s after the parents or the parent spend over 15 years of their hard earn money feeding you,clothing you,buying books,paying all kind of school fees so that you have a chance of a better life than them,but you choose to smoke weed and disgrace them.You can’t blame the government for that Mr.Asterix
What I may say is that there needs to be other alternatives for the high school drop-outs and teenage mothers,problems that we are having,that needs to be addressed.
I think it is time that the DFP, disassociate itself from any type of policitcal forum associated with the UWP, go build the damn party and stop the bloody piggy backing. We have a Party to build. I am fedup now.
If I could vote a thousand times i would.
are you helping in a tangible way to build the DFP? I know Sabaroche is doing his part. Are you?
I am doing my fair share. What are you doing??
@Dynamite Freedomite build which party? all Freedomites not Labourites nah? From PM down to Charlo. Who is left? Freedom party not even on life support I doh know why they not just pulling the plug on this arrested development and let it go in peace.
i agree with Mr Sabaroche 100%. This is the worst education minister we ever had , as a matter of fact this is the worst government we ever had . St.Jean came from teaching, nothing is wrong with coming from teaching but is the way he is behaving, like he is Moses.() He do not want to listen the the people who who been in education longer than him who has gone to study Education and has the degrees in Education. The ministry of Education is one of the ministries with the most qualified people , with masters, phd etc and St.Jean do not consult with them at all , and this is facts i am not just saying OK, i know .
and with your grammar he must have been your teacher
Sabbie you are fearless. Sabbie you are nothing soft. 100 000%CORRECT.
I ALSO LIKE GOM’S comment. It’s reality!
Sabaroche is very right!
The education department in Dominica has demonstrated that it has no clue as to what to do to educate and discipline the students of today.
its is not just a few students getting A’s. The discipline of the mass the the most important.
As we can see, the few A’s are leaving for the US, Canada, UK, etc. and what we are left with?????
St. Jean instead of giving maypwee got to the drawing board sir….
Wait awhile all you forget those children come from a home man? But what is this?
Most of the officials in the MOE were either teachers themselves, like Goldberg for example, so is the same ones that were there many years ago, i mean if anything has changed it will have to be the homes these children come from, the new laws are meant to protect the children from abuse..
people stop all you foolish politics and blame parents for not taking up their responsibility to discipline their children….
Fathers must take their responsibility, it is not just money it is spending that valuable time with your children, teach them to respect their elders etc, etc…
That foolish politics will kill all you we boss!!!
TIME FOR A NEW CANDIDATE PM FOR ROSO SOUTH
ALL OF US FED UP
A significant percentage of Dominicans are fed up with the level of rubbish in Dominican….The PM is a failure, the Ministers are failures. What is fooling the cabal is the “No Protest Action”..
Keep on Dreaming Skerrites.
is tru!!! i see skerro in my constituency before i see ambrose.all ambrose doing is dashing out money for newtown and maybe giraudel people. he doh worry with the rest! wallhouse? leopoldville?silverlake?kingshill? bath estate? ambrose covering scores on skerro so he deh to stay LOL
leave my boss alone please please
GOSPEL TRUTH SABBIE.Love you brother. The truth will hurt.
Our leaders and opposition leaders are just arguing like little children while unemployment among the youth is on the rise…….What example are you all setting for the YOUTH???
so what do you suggest the opposition do?? i mean short of getting you a voter to stand up and act, what else can the opposition realistically do? I think many of you are just looking for a convinient excuse since many of you dont want to admit it was a foolish move voting for this present regime. In this dimension oppisition parties point out holes in the gov approach , they are not the ones responsible for creating jobs.
I think we mush come together to build this country and stop the BS opposing every move the Government makes. When the UWP makes a valuable suggestion, I think the Government should take it up. When the Government does something good to benefit the country The opposition should acknolegde it as well. Not because they say OPPOSITION THAT MEANS WE SHOULD OPPOSE EVERYTHING! We need betterment in this country!
Must*
i think the level of education has gone down significanly. children dont care
why should they care, when they do not have a job after getting an education
skerrits administration may be corrupt but the (UWP) UNITED WORKERS PARTY IS FAR MORE CURRUPTED THAN SKERRIT’S. So for the time being i’ll stick with labour. . . .labour power ! red hot fire. . .blue blue cant stand the heat. . . .go green cant grin lol
Man go and hide!
wow a laybar rat….. know deep down in his/her heart that his/her party is deeply corrupt… can’t hold it any longer… so decides to find comfort on d.n.o and tries to implicate the u.w.p also… but wasn’t an investigation done… which brought no results from the bold claim of corruption against the u.w.p… man eddo n his party should have counter sued…. smh… teach ur children not to be corrupt and how to be honest… and go to ur comrades and confess to them that the party u all support is highly corrupt and you all should seek to ensure your children don’t do the same….
if only u would read and analyze the political climate for the past 20 years and also research the definition of political corruption u will understand who is more corrupt. but then again……
you are just another one of the Dominica wearing your ignorance as a badge of honour
They escaped because the deceased PM had no money to investigate them “Drastic measures” all you remember. That is why they escape – remind please?????????? It had more roro that labour
Very good answer St. Jean. Ask Sabrouche to name one major accomplishment that he had as Education Minister (apart from being dragged out of the House).LOL
Some of Sabaroche’s achievements:
His contribution the design of The Junior Secondary Education Program that provided an opporuntity for many young persons to get an education and vocational skills to earn a livelihood and live a decent life in their adulthood…developing educational and TECVEC programmes and strategies for the Caribbean which are being implemented by CXC and several CARICOM countries (I guess you didn’t know that)…lobbying and succeeding in getting Dr. Clarissa Etienne elected as Associate Director of PAHO…etc
is the quote below… A JOCK!!!!
“But I think it is evident for all to see that at this time in the history of Dominica, education has never been on a high as it is at this time in the history of Dominica,” St Jean said.
oh i see… it’s a JOKE!!!…. what a shock!!! shocking bad… it’s really a bad shock!!!
It’s more than a Joke! But the individual making the comment is a Joke, so what do you expect? Read GOM’S comment…..FIFTH FORM CAN’T READ! FIFTH FORM CAN’T WRITE NAME! OBSCENE LANGUAGE ,cursing those in authority etc etc etc.
St Jean is DOMINICA’S BIGGEST JOKE!
With the type of ‘commess’ that is in education presently it is clear that Sabaroche knows what he is saying. None of the Ministers of this failed state have a clue as to what they are doing to get this country out of the poverty it is stuck in… Where on earth at the Fifth Form Level students are still struggling to write their names, cannot do elementary reading, students are cursing off principals,and returning to school two days later like a big man/woman just to do the same thing over?
The government schools are worst affected,bullying, fights, obscene language galore,a proliferation of weapons,drugs, pornographic materials.Principals sitting or hiding in their offices. It’s just “bullock”…
I SUPPORT SABAROCHE 100 000 000 000 000 000 000%…HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS SAYING.
But in a failed state what do you expect?
Failed state??? Do you read what you write or you are so filled with partisan venom that you can only the supposedly ills of the system and nothing else?? tell me, which country on earth today can you go to that doesn’t have some or all of the things that you listed above occuring in the schools??(OR MAYBE YOU ARE LEAVING ON ANOTHER PLANET), but if you are really honest you MUST admit that it is the first time in our history that we have so many people afforeded tertiary education and that’s a fact!!!!
@Anonymous…Yes Sir/Madam.. You read well, a failed state.Nothing more Nothing less… That’s what this Dominica is.
LIKE THAT GOM…You are a blogger who call things by their name. We need more men/women like you!
What else do we expect.Is people like you who have failed the State.Today you want others to correct your mistake.Sit and think a little.I am sure you will agree you are playing a roll in the failing of the State.Bear in mind too,every generation has its time.
Well said Mr. St Jean.
u mean well said mr sabaroach
Well said my foot… Read GOM’S comment above. That’s what our schools have been reduced to. Deny it, and it will worsen.
Where is GOM’s comment??? LOL..you change your name