Nevis Education Minister announces new Principal Education Officer

Premier of Nevis and Minister of Education Hon. Vance Amory

The new Principal Education Officer in the Department of Education Mrs. Palsy Wilkin

New Education Officer in the Department of Education Mrs. Ilena Mills

NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (SEPTEMBER 03, 2013) — The Ministry of Education on Nevis has a new Principal Education Officer (PEO). Mrs. Palsy Wilkin, a former Education Officer was appointed to fill the position in time for the new school year which began on September 02, 2013. She took over the position which was held by Mrs. Lornette Queeley-Connor who continues to serve as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education.

Word of the new appointment, one of several made in Education, came from Premier of Nevis and Minister of Education Hon. Vance Amory when he made a televised address on the first day of the new school year. He said the changes would ensure a more effective management of the school system.

“In order to begin to restructure and refocus the process of educating our children, we must establish a system which restores the morale of the teaching fraternity and the officers in the Department of Education. That is my challenge to get a new paradigm in the delivery of education, placing our children at the centre of the process. What we do as educators must be to ensure our children become better persons to make a better country and also to make a more harmonious and efficient system in which our education officers can feel the need to develop their skills as educators.

“In order to begin this process, a decision has been made to appoint Mrs. Palsy Wilkin as the new Principal Education Officer and we have made a few changes in school management, having appointed Mrs. Ilena Mills as an Education Officer and to replace Mrs. Mills at the Ivor Walters Primary School, we have transferred Mrs. [Janice] Richards from the St. James’ Primary school to head the Ivor Walters Primary. To replace Mrs. Richards, we have transferred Ms. Daniele Wallace from the VOJN Primary School to head the St. James’ Primary School. These transfers in the system we expect will bring some new approaches to running of the schools in Nevis,” he explained.

According to Mr. Amory, the decision behind the separation of the functions of the PS of Education and that of the PEO, were to make sure the day-to-day management of the schools were effectively handled.

The Education Minister noted it was necessary to get all the teachers and the Officers in the Department of Education to work together with one, clear purpose to effect change in the direction of the country and hinted at further changes.

“The separation of the functions of the Permanent Secretary and the Principal Education Officer will create a higher level of morale among our teachers and Education Officers and a clear demarcation of roles to lead the education of our children.

“It is possible that there will be adjustments in the [education] system as time goes on, to ensure that we get the best for our children. This is just the beginning,” he said.