fbpx
  • Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • Opinions
  • Features
  • Letters
  • Videos
  • Editorials
  • Columns
Kamla Persad Bissessar

Trinidad and Tobago OPPOSITION LEADER addresses TOWN HALL MEETING ON EDUCATION IN SAN FERNANDO WEST

November 16, 2024
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Guyana & Caricom Must unquestionably support India in battle against Terror

May 26, 2025
Remembering Aunty Betty of Port Mourant, Guyana

Remembering Aunty Betty of Port Mourant, Guyana

May 23, 2025
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Do Guyana Governments respond to Objective, fair, balanced editorials? The attack on Hindus and Hinduism in Guyana

May 21, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Guyana must Seek American Assistance to deter Venezuela’s Aggression & Halt May 25 Election

May 21, 2025
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Exxon, Liability, and Guyana’s Growth

May 21, 2025
Dool Hanomansingh

Why the Hindu community remains weak despite personal achievements?

May 17, 2025
English rendering of PM’s interaction with the brave air warriors and soldiers at the Adampur Air Base

English rendering of PM’s interaction with the brave air warriors and soldiers at the Adampur Air Base

May 17, 2025
Ashook-Ramsaran

THE INDIAN DIASPORA COUNCIL CONVENES CONFERENCE SESSION AT ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY

May 17, 2025
Leyland-Chitlall-Roopnaraine

A CHILD’S DEATH PLUNGES A COUNTRY INTO CRISIS

May 17, 2025
Vassan Ramracha

PPP/C GOVERNMENT MUST CONCEDE ITS INDIAN ARRIVAL DAY

May 17, 2025
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Prosecute Hate Speech and Racial Attacks against Indians in Guyana

May 17, 2025
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Indian Caribbean Diaspora Support Surgical Strikes against terrorists; backs PM Modi’s tough response

May 17, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Condition
Thursday, May 29, 2025
  • Login
Indo Caribbean Diaspora News
  • Home
  • Columns
    Dr. Vishnu Bisram

    Guyana & Caricom Must unquestionably support India in battle against Terror

    Dr. Vishnu Bisram

    Do Guyana Governments respond to Objective, fair, balanced editorials? The attack on Hindus and Hinduism in Guyana

    Dr. Vishnu Bisram

    Guyana must Seek American Assistance to deter Venezuela’s Aggression & Halt May 25 Election

    Dr. Vishnu Bisram

    Indian Caribbean Diaspora Support Surgical Strikes against terrorists; backs PM Modi’s tough response

    Dr. Vishnu Bisram

    Will Azruddin and Glenn Team up in Guyana?

    Dr. Jerry Jailall

    The Adrianna “scrapehead” riots must be a wake-up call to Indo-Guyanese as we race towards the 2025 elections

    Dr. Vishnu Bisram

    Racial Unity in Grief over death of Afro Child in Guyana; divided by racial attacks on Indians; call for an inquiry

    Indian Arrival Day celebrations were held at Better Hope Mandir compound Friday May 5 afternoon.

    The Struggle for Indian Arrival as a Holiday in Guyana

    Vassan Ramracha

    CIVILITY IN TRINIDAD ELECTIONS

    Dr. Vishnu Bisram

    Racial Attacks Divided Guyanese nation united in grief

  • Letters
    Guyana Rohee’s mocking of Illegal Guyanese & Green Card Holders in America

    Guyana Rohee’s mocking of Illegal Guyanese & Green Card Holders in America

    Charles Sugrim

    Authenticating Dr Bisram’s Poll in Guyana

    Gary Griffith

    United We Stand, Divided We Fall

    Ravi Balgobin Maharaj

    Democrats More Dangerous to Dragon Gas than Republicans

    Ravi Balgobin Maharaj

    Who Really Lost in the Junior Sammy Matter in Trinidad?

    Jai Lall

    A challenge to become the rainbow in Leonora’s cloud

    Rabindra-Moonan

    The opposition UNC led by Kamla Persad Bissessar has gone into meltdown mode.

    Jai Lall

    Residents of Leonora, Guyana are ashamed and embarrassed

    Kamla Persad Bissessar

    Trinidad & Tobago REPUBLIC DAY MESSAGE 2024 OF LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

    Ravi Balgobin Maharaj

    Crime has reached a high level in Trinidad and Tobago

  • Community News
    Remembering Aunty Betty of Port Mourant, Guyana

    Remembering Aunty Betty of Port Mourant, Guyana

    Dr. Vishnu Bisram

    Exxon, Liability, and Guyana’s Growth

    English rendering of PM’s interaction with the brave air warriors and soldiers at the Adampur Air Base

    English rendering of PM’s interaction with the brave air warriors and soldiers at the Adampur Air Base

    Indian-Caribbeans Observe Hanuman Birth Anniversary

    Indian-Caribbeans Observe Hanuman Birth Anniversary

    Ram Navami 2023 Observed

    Indo Caribbean Americans Observed 2025 Ram Naumi or Navami

    Dool Hanomansingh

    Gowtam Maharaj: “Phagwa is much more than gulal and abeer; it is building family love and strong communities.”

    Queens Boro President hosts 2025 Holi (Phagwah) Celebration

    Queens Boro President hosts 2025 Holi (Phagwah) Celebration

    Indian-Caribbean Americans in 2025 Phagwah (Holi) Spirit

    Indian-Caribbean Americans in 2025 Phagwah (Holi) Spirit

    Indo-Caribbeans Spellbound by the Maha Kumbh in India

    Indo-Caribbeans Spellbound by the Maha Kumbh in India

    Indo-Caribbean New Yorkers Observe Shivratri

    Indo-Caribbean New Yorkers Observe Shivratri

  • Editorials
    cliff-rajkumar

    VANISHING FOOTPRINTS

    Kamla Persad Bissessar

    Trinidad and Tobago OPPOSITION LEADER addresses TOWN HALL MEETING ON EDUCATION IN SAN FERNANDO WEST

    Jai Lall

    Guyana Leonora’s villagers are inseparable

    Dr. Vishnu Bisram

    Indo-Caribbean to speak on India’s Soft Power in Delhi

    Jai Lall

    Empty vessels make the most noise – politics in Guyana

    Ashook-Ramsaran

    In Commemoration of the 23rd Anniversary

    Kamla Persad Bissessar

    Hope for UNC of Trinidad?

    Ravi Balgobin Maharaj

    Is there No Other Musical Instrument Indigenous to T&T?

    Guyana-map

    October 2024 Hindu Conference bring back memories of Humiliation of Indians in Guyana

    Jai Lall

    Is Kamala Harris the “Trump” card for the Democrats?

  • Opinions
    Dool Hanomansingh

    Why the Hindu community remains weak despite personal achievements?

    Leyland-Chitlall-Roopnaraine

    A CHILD’S DEATH PLUNGES A COUNTRY INTO CRISIS

    Dool Hanomansingh

    Pakistan has always been a puppet nation

    Dool Hanomansingh

    Never too late for Dinesh to redeem himself!

    Dool Hanomansingh

    Bhadase and Sat were successful in so many ways

    Dool Hanomansingh

    The UNC is a Bullet Train Today

    Dool Hanomansingh

    Why is the EU Grant for Ex-Cane Farmers Not Paid?

    Dool Hanomansingh

    PNM hates Poor Black People

    Dool Hanomansingh

    Why whites are fleeing South Africa?

    Dool Hanomansingh

    Crime and the Hindu Community

  • Videos
    Dool-Hanomansingh-003

    US Congress woman Tulsi Gabbard condemns the ongoing genocide of Hindus and other minorities

    Geeta-Vaahini

    Geeta Vaahini, President of the  Hindu Prachaar Kendra speaks on the social significance of Ganga Dhara Festival.

    Geeta-Vaahini

    Geeta Vaahini, President of the Hindu Prachaar Kendra speaks on the Hindu view of the environment.

    swami-brahmadeo

    Swami Brahmadeo – Hindus are top CEOs and Medics in North America and Europe

    Gowtam-Maharaj

    Gowtam Maharaj, a farmer of Barrackpore, South Trinidad, shares his challenges being a farmer.

    BAMBOO #1 Flooding – Frustrated Residents

    BAMBOO #1 Flooding – Frustrated Residents

    NATIONAL-LOTUS-THEATRE

    NATIONAL LOTUS THEATRE – Performance of Niyantran

    radica-jairam

    Story of RADICA JAIRAM from Orange Valley

    fisherman-trinidad

    Families of Orange Valley felt neglected by PNM Government

    Dr Subramanian Swamy

    Dr Subramanian Swamy – Dharma Rising London April 2015

  • Features
    ravi-ratiram

    Trinidad MP Ravi Ratiram Condemns Government’s Failures Amidst Rising Crime in Central Trinidad and Calls for Immediate Action to Protect Citizens

    Pandit Ramdular Singh

    Pandit Ramdular Singh on Guyana’s Dharmic Sabha

    Vassan Ramracha

    PNM bent on Africanizing Trinidad

    Baldeo_Chanderpaul-3

    West Indian cricketers must strive to emulate Shiv Chanderpaul of Guyana

    Jai Lall

    Who in Guyana will ever buy the PNC/AFC/APNU “honesty, integrity and decency” pitch again?

    cliff-rajkumar

    Non Indians Embracing Sanathan Dharma

    Mr. Rudranath Indarsingh

    INDARSINGH ON RELOCATION OF PRINCES TOWN FIRE OFFICERS

    Vassan Ramracha

    TRIBAL AFRICANS DO NOT CONDONE INTERRACIAL MARRIAGES

    Jai Lall

    Guyana President Ali and Cabinet Ministers Engaged West Coast Supporters

    Dr Jerry Jailall

    PPP Government responds quickly to changing “Negro” on Government forms, will they also add “Indian” to Arrival Day?

No Result
View All Result
Indo Caribbean Diaspora News
No Result
View All Result

Trinidad and Tobago OPPOSITION LEADER addresses TOWN HALL MEETING ON EDUCATION IN SAN FERNANDO WEST

by Staff Reporter
November 16, 2024
in Editorials
0
Kamla Persad Bissessar
487
SHARES
3.9k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The Office of the Leader of Opposition has followed up on its highly successful Anti-Crime Town Hall Meetings with a Town Hall Meeting on Education, at an overflowing Naparima College in San Fernando West, on Monday 11 November 2024.

Like the previous Town Hall Meetings, the focus of the meeting was not on the presenters on the stage, but rather the contributions from citizens.

As the Opposition Leader, Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, stated, “We have decided to come back to you, the people. Everything we do is for the people of Trinidad and Tobago. So as often as possible, we will meet with you throughout the length and breadth of the country, to hear your suggestions, to hear your voices, to hear whatever you want to offer to us, your problems, your solutions and whatever answers you may be able to help us to craft, to take Trinidad and Tobago forward.”

The Feature Speakers at the event were Dr. Michael Dowlath, retired principal of Naparima College and Iere High School, and attorney-at-law Shiva Balliram. Notably, Mr. Balliram, now a successful professional, was the first National Scholarship winner from Debe High School, which was built by the UNC Government while Kamla Persad-Bissessar was Minister of Education, creating a secondary school place for every student, for the first time in our history.

Mr. Balliram also recalled, “I benefited in 2012 with my laptop I received from the laptop program. Trinidad and Tobago benefited from this program. We had the opportunity to take the computer home and use it rather than going to a computer lab and having to pay.”

A similar sentiment of gratitude was expressed by an attendee whose son recently graduated from medical school, and who indicated that he would not have been able to purchase an adequate laptop for his son when he entered secondary school.

Due to illness, Professor Selwyn Cudjoe sent his greetings to the meeting, and indicated his eagerness to join the Opposition Leader at the earliest possible occasion.

Lamenting the distressing state of the education system today under the PNM, the Hon. Persad-Bissessar declared, “We cannot go forward without the education for every child, according to your needs.”

It was noted by the Chairman, temporary Opposition Senator Sean Sobers, that Mrs. Persad-Bissessar has always argued that education is the passport out of poverty, and this is why it is so important to her. The Opposition Leader is also adamant that our education system must produce the best and brightest graduates who can lead Trinidad and Tobago and the world.

Among the proposals she shared with regard to the UNC’s education policy, she indicated that there are currently 500 doctors who have been trained and cannot get a job, and that these doctors and nurses can be placed in schools, to pick up early signs of physical disability, mental disabilities, and issues of physical abuse, bullying and sexual abuse.

Among Dr. Dowlath’s several proposals was the establishment of a special monitoring unit within the division of school supervision, to check to ensure that the curriculum is being implemented. This was deemed necessary as 68% of our children do not achieve full certification in secondary school. This Government has provided poor leadership in implementing ideas and initiatives in education.

Mr. Balliram’s suggestions for curriculum and educational reform also highlighted past achievements of the People’s Partnership Government, including the laptop program, the National Energy Skills Centre campuses, the Drilling Academy, 93 new schools constructed, 91 schools left under construction, 4,500 instances of repair and maintenance carried out in schools, and the construction of the Debe Campus, while Dr. Dowlath also recalled the establishment of the first ever national student hotline which provided students around Trinidad and Tobago with professional counselling which was very confidential.

Mrs. Persad-Bissessar noted, however, that every education project began by her Government – including the national student hotline – has been stalled and stopped by the PNM, throwing the education system into administrative chaos, social dysfunction, and tragic under-performance.

The centrepiece of the meeting was the audience participation, which was tremendous. Current and retired educators, educational specialists, parents, and students provided their first-hand analyses and solutions, providing the Opposition with rich material to form government policy.

Audience members raised issues concerning:

− Bullying

− The culture of crime, violence, gangs and taxing in schools

− The use of technology and artificial intelligence

− The need for religion and more participation by denominational schools

− relevance of the curriculum

− brain drain

− The lack of jobs for graduates, and the scaling back of the OJT programme

− digital literacy

− STEM education, coding, data analysis, cyber security

− financial literacy

− entrepreneurship

− neglected infrastructure and buildings

− Inadequate staffing and teacher training

− developing well-rounded individuals

− Technical and vocational education

− Agricultural education

− mental health services

− Student support for arts, sport, culture, physical education, dance and drama

− education of migrants

− The need to deal with homework overload for parents and students

− wasteful spending of the Ministry’s $8 billion budget

− Proposal for a remedial school for children with bullying problems

− Reducing the burden of the SEA exam

− lack of staffing and resources for guidance counsellors and student support services

− support for parents and teachers

Two particularly urgent issues were also highlighted by audience members: the rat infestation at the Preysal Secondary School which the Ministry of Education has not attended to; and the Government’s moves to build HDC housing on lands previously allocated for technical and vocational schooling, next to Modsec (San Fernando Central Secondary School), which is being challenged by residents.

In response to the contributions, the Opposition Leader reiterated her commitment to the education of migrant children while ensuring social discipline, and her commitment to increase involvement of the religious denominations in the education system.

The Opposition Leader’s Education Town Hall was a great success, and will be followed in the coming weeks by future Town Hall Meetings on Foreign Exchange and the Economy, Health, and Infrastructure.

The full event can be viewed on YouTube here:

Facebook Comments Box
Tags: carribeanGuyanaGuyaneseindian cultureIndian diasporaIndian GuyaneseIndiansIndo Caribbean diasporaindo-caribbeanIndo-Caribbean communityIndo-GuyaneseTrinidadTrinidad and Tobago
Share140Tweet88Share35
ADVERTISEMENT
Staff Reporter

Staff Reporter

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Dr. Jerry Jailall

The Adrianna “scrapehead” riots must be a wake-up call to Indo-Guyanese as we race towards the 2025 elections

May 10, 2025
Remembering Aunty Betty of Port Mourant, Guyana

Remembering Aunty Betty of Port Mourant, Guyana

May 23, 2025
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Guyana & Caricom Must unquestionably support India in battle against Terror

May 26, 2025
Mark M. Persaud

Speech of Mark M. Persaud, LL.B., LL.M., LL.D to Graduates at Convocation of Law Society of Ontario

June 20, 2024
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Guyana & Caricom Must unquestionably support India in battle against Terror

May 26, 2025
Remembering Aunty Betty of Port Mourant, Guyana

Remembering Aunty Betty of Port Mourant, Guyana

May 23, 2025
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Do Guyana Governments respond to Objective, fair, balanced editorials? The attack on Hindus and Hinduism in Guyana

May 21, 2025
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Guyana must Seek American Assistance to deter Venezuela’s Aggression & Halt May 25 Election

May 21, 2025

The most important world news and events of the day.

Get ICDN daily newsletter on your inbox.

ADVERTISEMENT
Indo Caribbean Diaspora News

© 2024 Indo-Caribbean Diaspora News. All rights Reserved

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Condition

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Columns
  • Letters
  • Community News
  • Opinions
  • Videos
  • Features
  • Editorials

© 2024 Indo-Caribbean Diaspora News. All rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In