“I would do anything for my children” – Walwyn
BVI News Staff - Friday, April 20th, 2012 at 1:36 PM
Education Minister Myron Walwyn says as a society people can no longer pretend that the special needs population in the territory does not exist.
Speaking to senior management in the Ministry of Education in a planning meeting this week, the Minister said, “I am a parent and I know that there isn’t anything that I would not do for anyone of my children.”
He said even with all the advances in medicine and technology, children are being born daily with different needs and “none of us can determine the child that the good Lord will bless us with”.
The minister said while the government continues to support current programmes at the Eslyn Richez Learning Centre “we have an opportunity to be creative and explore new methods in special needs education”. The minister said he has met parents who have had to leave home in Virgin Gorda, and some that are currently faced with this decision, in order to provide their child with opportunities in education.
“I am asking the acting chief education officer to quickly resolve the displacement issue we presently face with the Student Services Department that serves our special needs students with urgency. That unit needs to be relocated in an environment that is both comfortable for employees and adequately equipped to service our customers. That unit plays an important role in linking parents and caregivers of children with special needs to the services we offer. This is a priority area in education for this government and I will be depending on the officers within the ministry and the Student Services Department to quickly identify suitable candidates to fill vacancies for therapist and special needs educators,” Minister Walwyn said.
He added: “All of our children are talented in their own right, and by providing the necessary resources for differently-abled children in the Virgin islands, I look forward to them having the opportunity for education and training so that they too can make their contributions to our society.”
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14 Comments
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I am glad to hear the minister’s position on special needs. But my concern is if his support staff share his views and vision . As I recall, his now acting ps was CEO and I cannot say that the dept carried the same passion and direction that the current minister is
advocating. And yes, these must come from the heart as I am sure that the minister is very sincere. I also know personally that he had an interest in this area long before he decided to even run for election. Minister, I wish you well and hope that you have success in this area. It is long, long, OVERDUE!!!!!!
Government gives this company $100,000 per year and there is no accountability and year after year the money is being dished out with no audited reports. The owners are still charging children when government is funding the program.
Through it all, the return should have been that the kids were benefiting. If the program was helping them (black or white), then I don’t care what color the owners are. Our currency is green. If there is an issue of accountability, and if the government has such a big financial interest, then send down an auditor to deal with it, but not at the cost to the children. I know alot of the kids who didn’t pay. Is another program considered in its place? It was not pulled completely, but only a certain number of children will be supported by government, I think from the school by the Magistrates Court and Baughers bay. Thing always boil down to the damn dollar. Can we get it for free then?
Actually, the Government promised to support this organisation but never came up with the funds!Ask them how much they committed to the programme and how much they came up with.
myron again? he must have bought this site?
Mr. Walwyn, if you would do anything for children with special needs why has even the very idea of pulling any aspect of the Sailiability program happen?
are you sure what ur saying? they can’t do that. My child does the sailing and she loves it. No No no. If its true then its a shame. Is it that the trainers don’t want to teach any more or nobody want to pay for it. This will be a big blow to the children.
You are a liar. The program was not pulled. It was better arranged so that government can get value for money.
Nobody said that they were pulling out. The comment said “any aspect of the program”. What’s the purpose of labelling any body a liar.
Salability program is more about a few Caucasian person making a living rather than our special needs children. I understand that the program was not pulled at all. The Caucasians just aint getting the big money they accustom to getting. This company cannot expect to depend on government to keep it alive? Which local company gets that kind of guarantee from government?
I’m sorry you had to bring race into this comment.Our children are all races and nationalities and that should be the only concern.
I left out the ? It should have been caucasian? so no confusion about the poster.
This is a GREAT initiative!! If getting this school to its fullest potential is the only thing this Government does for their entire term they would get my vote, it’s long overdue!
I fully agree with you. Minister Walwyn campaigned on this issue and addressed this in the past. I am so pleased to see he is keeping this issue alive and seriously educating himself and the public on the strategies and programs to help these kids.
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