FREEPORT, G.B. – Minister for Education Science and Technology, Jerome Fitzgerald made it clear Monday that he takes his job seriously and that he will be visiting, in most cases unannounced, the various institutions on Grand Bahama and New Providence to ensure that their policies and programmes are carried out.
Likewise, the Minister said that following the current Budget Debate, he will be meeting with media houses to get them to focus more on the positive things that are happening with children in education.
Mr. Fitzgerald was on Monday attending the annual Speech Day and Awards Ceremony for the Class of 2012 of the Walter Parker Primary School. Some 132 students graduated from that institute.
After watching the proceedings and the talents of the many students on display at the Community at Heart Tabernacle on Coral Road, the special guest speaker told the gathering that “I hope tonight on the news, that this is the lead story. I hope when I open the papers tomorrow, I see it on the front page.”
He further told the gathering that “I made it a point when I became Minister of Education to continue to press this point that we talk about and put forth all the great things that are going on in education, and all the great things in our young people, and indeed the future is bright.
“So you will see with the Ministry of Education, we will be expanding our communications department. I will be calling in members of the media next week after the Budget to talk about what we expect of the media moving forward. Because, there is no way in my mind, with all the great stuff that is going on that we can’t have our children more prominent,” he stated.
The Minister told the graduates that their theme for the occasion, “Celebrating a Season of Greatness – The Journey continues”, focuses on their accomplishments during their time at Walter Parker Primary, and to their next step in life.
“I see from your programme booklet, that many of you used your time here wisely and learned your lessons. You listened to your teachers and studied hard and for this you will be rewarded,” he said.
Mr. Fitzgerald went on to congratulate the Class Valedictorian, Dante Rolle, who recently achieved national success as the first runner-up in the National Spelling Bee Competition and later went on to represent the country at a competition in Washington DC.
He also took the opportunity to applaud Chazztin Bowe for being selected as the nominee for Walter Parker Primary at the Primary School Student of the Year Competition and being selected as a semi-finalist.
Continuing, he told the graduates that “whatever you were successful in at primary school, you have to now double your efforts to be better at the same thing in junior high school.
“Things are going to be somewhat difficult but for those of you willing to increase their commitment and study harder the outcome will be the same,” he stated.
The Education Minister also told graduates that while he wants them to enjoy the summer holidays, that at some point they should begin to think about what they want to do for the next three years of their education.
“I want you to read some books and keep your thirst for knowledge awake so that when you return to school in September, the adjustment to a new school environment is not so difficult,” he said.
Also, he told students and teachers that he intends to meet some of them at school so he can share the government’s plans for Grand Bahama, especially in the area of education.
He encouraged all to remain on the path of greatness and to stay away from the negatives in life such as drugs and to always strive for excellence.
The Minister of Education is expected to be in Grand Bahama until Wednesday morning. His schedule calls for him visiting all government owned and operated schools on the island.
He is expected to address the Graduating Class of the Jack Hayward High School on Tuesday beginning at 10 a.m., and the graduates of Mary Star of the Sea School at 6 p.m.
By SIMON LEWIS
Bahamas Information Services
