A delegation of senior officials from the Ministry of Education, led by newly appointed Minister for Education, Honourable Kenson Casimir, has completed a full-day tour of schools in Education District One, visiting nine institutions in a single day.
The tour formed part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to assess conditions on the ground and to engage directly with educators, administrators, and students at the start of the academic term.
Minister Casimir expressed satisfaction with the level of engagement and enthusiasm encountered during the visits.
“I am elated to have met so many teachers, so many students, so many administrators; to be at our schools. Of course, the excitement and the expectations are very high.”
He noted that the ministry remains focused on supporting its key stakeholders despite existing limitations.
“For us at the Ministry of Education, we just endeavour to ensure that our key stakeholders, our teachers, our students are as comfortable as possible,” he explained. “We do always have resource constraints, but as Minister of Education, I really got a good idea of some of the challenges of the schools all beaten and off today, and I look forward to visiting many, many more schools and providing that service that our young people deserve.”
The minister indicated that access to teaching materials emerged as a recurring concern among educators.
“That I’m excited about in terms of education. I think a lot of the requests from teachers are for more supplies,” Casimir stated. “I believe we need to have a comprehensive analysis of supplies in Saint Lucia as it pertains to teaching materials.”
He also highlighted the importance of aligning education with practical skills and national development needs, particularly in the technical and vocational sectors.
“I think at the end of the day people gravitate towards something that they’re excited about, something that they can actually visualise and see and enjoy. And I mean, there is an opportunity when you go to all contractors, they keep telling you there’s a dire need for skills for carpenters, for electricians, for plumbers in this country.”
According to Casimir, addressing those gaps must form part of the government’s broader educational strategy.
“I think one of the main things we have to do as a government is to take it to the blocks and ensure that our young people get those opportunities,” he added.
The District One tour is expected to inform future policy decisions as the Ministry of Education continues its outreach to schools across the island.