Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 02, 2020 (SKNIS): The Embassy of the Republic of China (ROC) (Taiwan) held its annual Monetary Taiwanese Scholarship Ceremony on December 02, where 174 students were awarded scholarships, 130 from St. Kitts and 44 from Nevis, from primary, secondary and tertiary educational institutions.
His Excellency, Tom Chih-Chiang Lee, Resident Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to St. Kitts and Nevis, said that education is wealth and encouraged the students to continue doing well in their studies.
“If you look at the mirror, you are the one responsible for your studies,” he said to the students. “There is no doubt that education is wealth because education is your passport to the future and also your key to your success. Don’t forget you are also the ones responsible for your studies. Your parents cannot do it for you. Your teachers cannot do it for you. They can only help you. So I want to encourage you to continue doing your good jobs and don’t forget our Government also provides scholarships for you to pursue higher education. So, I would like to encourage you to apply for a scholarship in the future.”
Ambassador Lee said that ROC (Taiwan) is always willing to help St. Kitts and Nevis develop its human resources.
“Our Embassy will continue to work with the Ministry of Education to further deepen our cooperation in education for the benefit of our two great peoples,” he said.
Minister of Education, the Honourable Jonel Powell, said that the Government and people of the Republic of China (Taiwan) have established and maintained a relationship with the people of St. Kitts and Nevis spanning more than 30 years.
“Given the global financial climate, it is no small feat that the Government of Taiwan has honoured its commitment to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis by ensuring that the 2020 scholarships are granted,” said Minister Powell. “Remarkably 174 recipients will benefit from a significant sum of money to aid in their academic advancement.”
The Minister said that in addition to the scholarships, during the month of September, 13 nationals were awarded Taiwanese Scholarships to pursue Undergraduate, Masters, and Doctoral Studies in Taiwan.
“The munificence of the Taiwanese people must be commended,” he said. “The Government and people of St. Kitts and Nevis are internally grateful for the generosity and courtesies extended to us by them.”
The Education Minister noted that through collaborations such as these, the Government is able to fulfill its mandate to provide avenues to which its people may empower themselves.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (November 12, 2020) — Sixteen students on Nevis have received school supplies donated by the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) Women’s Arm as part of the group’s week of activities.
The students received the supplies during a ceremony at Riviere House on November 11, 2020.
Ms. Latoya Jones, president of the CCM Women’s Arm, said Wednesday was designated “Touch a Child Day” and so the group reached out to assist young students from across the island.
“We are delighted to be in a position to sponsor two children from each of the seven public primary schools plus the Cecele Browne Integrated School (CBIS) during our week of activities…Our children hold the future of our nation in their hands, hence it is imperative that we continue to mold, reach, uplift, make a difference in the lives of our children. This is critical to their advancement,” she said.
Ms. Jones encouraged the students to be focused and dedicated to their academic studies.
“Remember, education is the key that unlocks many doors to success,” she said.
Hon. Troy Liburd, Junior Minister of Education in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), thanked the organisation for doing its part to help the younger generation.
“I was very happy when I got the invitation to come to say thank you on behalf of the Ministry of Education and on behalf of our schools to the CCM Women’s Arm for this generous and wonderful donation…I believe that this donation will go a long way to assisting these young people,” he said.
Each package contained a backpack, notebooks, pens, pencils, a geometry set, a ruler, erasers, folders, markers and a sharpener. The packages for the CBIS students also included crayons and play dough.
The students were admonished to take care of the items and encouraged to put them to use to master their school work.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 21st , 2020 (ZIZ News): Students attending Primary Schools in Constituency Number 7 will be awarded scholarships as Prime Minister Dr. Hon. Timothy Harris hosts the 17th Annual Help-A-Child Scholarship Program.
Speaking in the most recent edition of Leadership Matters on ZIZ Television, Press Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister Valencia Grant outlined the history of the programme.
“17 years ago, Dr. Hon. Timothy Harris founded the Help a Child Primary School Scholarship programme to assist children from Constituency number 7- Belle View to Ottleys—who showed academic potential and financial need. Over the years more than seven hundred recipients have benefitted from Dr. Harris’ Scholarship programme which enlists a number of entities to support his philanthropic efforts.”
Ms. Grant spoke of the significance of the program at this time.
“The covid19 pandemic has increased the stress on household budgets and that’s why the 17th annual Help a child program will be held this coming Thursday at Mount Cramel Baptiste Church in Bourryeux takes on even greater significance in light of the global economic downturn.”
Each student will receive $500 bursaries.
Since its inception, the Help a Child Program has gifted each child with $500 each, resulting in a $350 thousand dollar disbursement to date.
Hosted under the distinguished patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Hon. Timothy Harris, the 17th Annual Help a Child Progamme will be held at the Mount Carmel Baptiste Church at 5pm.
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Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 5th , 2020 (ZIZ News): As Energy Month approaches, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Post Urban Development and Transport is inviting senior primary school students to participate in an art competition.
In speaking with ZIZ News about the competition, Communications Officer in the Ministry Che-Raina Warner said the contest is guided by the theme for energy month 2020.
“The art competition that we are running is particularly geared to target the senior students of the elementary school—the primary schools—both in St. Kitts and Nevis. The sole purpose of the art competition is for the students to develop some sort of artwork that speaks to our theme which is “A RE-silient Community: Energy at the Center.” Using that theme, they create an art work and later on in November when we celebrate Energy Month, we will use that very same artwork to be represented on our t-shirts,” she said.
She spoke of why the ministry decided to target children between the ages of 9 and 12 years old.
The sole purpose of putting the competition at the primary school level is to sensitize the children as to energy and the importance of energy in the community as well as to give them the opportunity to express their creative capabilities.”
The winner of the art competition will receive $300 and an art set, 2nd place will receive $200 and an art set and third place will receive $100 and an art set.
The deadline for the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Post Urban Development and Transport’s Energy Month Art Contest is October 12th.
]]>BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, September 6, 2020 (PLP PR Media Inc.) — Ambassador His Excellency Kevin ‘Ninky’ Williams held a well-attended and successful Back-2-School event on Saturday September 5 where he distributed school supplies and snacks to pupils of the four primary schools in Constituency Number Six.
The school supplies distribution held at the Newton Ground, St. Paul’s, Dieppe Bay, and Saddlers Primary Schools was well attended by students and their parents, and Prime Minister Dr the Timothy Harris who came to lend support to Ambassador Williams praised parents in Constituency Number Six for being visible in the lives of their children.
“I want to congratulate Ambassador Kevin Williams for taking the initiative today, and to ensure that the students from Number Six who will be going out to school next week, are better equipped to do so,” said Prime Minister Harris who assisted in the distribution of school supplies at the Saddlers Primary School.
He noted that the distribution of satchels, exercise books, and several other educational supplies would be beneficial as it would take that expenditure off the parents and significant adults in the lives of the children. The act would at the same time incentivise the children as they will be put in a better frame of mind regarding going back to schools which open on Monday September 7, but the students will report on Wednesday September 9.
“I want to thank the young people of Number Six who have given tremendous support to this initiative to Ambassador Williams for coming out today, and organising for the large turnout we have had everywhere which tells us that this programme is one which has high demand,” commented Dr Harris. “It meets the felt needs of the people and we will want it to go stronger and better year after year.”
The Prime Minister thanked the organisers of the Back-2-School activity who assisted Ambassador Williams in organising such a highly successful event which was not only attended by the students, but their parents as well who ensured that the children came out and took part, which he noted was as a good sign.
“Based on the science, the more parents are involved in the educational life of their children the more interested the students are,” observed Prime Minister Harris. “So we need to see parents visible at every function of the school, at its assembly when this is permissible, the sports field, and at the PTA meetings. All these activities, in which parents are engaged help enthuse children to learning more; learning more quickly and having a more satisfying experience.”
Ambassador Williams who is Team Unity’s caretaker for Constituency Number Six and who ran in the June 5 General Election was one of the three Peoples Labour Party (PLP) candidates, the others being Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris in Number Seven, and Minister of Health the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett in Number Three. Prime Minister Harris is the National Political Leader of the Peoples Labour Party.
“We know over the past months it has been a troubling time for the most people of the constituency and St. Kitts and Nevis in general, because of Covid-19 and the cut back on work so the finances and everything is a bit challenging for some parents,” said Ambassador Kevin Williams. “My team and I we decided it will be a good gesture if we could get together and muster some back to school supplies for the children of the primary schools and going onwards, which will help to build a strong and safer future.”
He thanked his team, which is led by Mrs Sylvia Williams-Francis who along with Ms Verneen Rawlins, Mr Calvin Leader and others worked hard to ensure the event was the success it was. He also thanked teachers at the four primary schools for lending support to the effort and making the school premises available.
“We were blessed and graced with the appearance of our Prime Minister who joined me here to show his support in distributing the packages and to let the kids know that the whole government is with them supporting them, and that is very good,” said Ambassador Williams. Also helping with the distribution of school supplies and snacks to the students was Deputy Speaker, Senator the Hon Dr Bernicia Nisbett.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS July 27, 2020 (Nevis Island Administration) – Hon. Troy Liburd, Junior Minister of Education in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), has given the assurance that plans to make schools on the island COVID-19 complaint in time to open for the 2020-2021 school year, are well advanced.
Acknowledging increased inquiries from parents regarding the reopening of schools, Minister Liburd explained that the Ministry of Education on Nevis has been working with Education officials at the Federal level to put new COVID-19 protocols in place for primary and secondary schools.
Giving an update during a July 23, 2020 town hall meeting in Cotton Ground, hosted by the NIA, Mr. Liburd said the ministry is working assiduously to make sure schools will be in a position to open.
“We are preparing for the opening of our primary schools and high schools in September. The Ministry of Education is working in collaboration with the Ministry on St. Kitts to ensure that all of our schools in the Federation will be in a position to open come September. It would mean that some retrofitting would have to be done on our schools, and protocols would have to be developed. As a matter of fact, both ministries are working on protocols. We have seen a draft copy of the protocols that we are trying to put in place in both St. Kitts and Nevis.
“We are working together to see what would be the best fit for us to move forward; so there is quite a bit that’s going on behind the scenes to try to get schools up to standard to re-open in September in this era of COVID-19,” he said.
He stressed the importance of schools’ having proper sanitisation and social distancing protocols in place to ensure that students can go back to physical learning and do so in a safe environment.
A COVID-19 Compliance and Enforcement checklist has already been established for Early Childhood Development Centres on Nevis. It has been distributed to service providers, in order to have preschools and daycare centres meet the new standards to re-open in short order.
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