PHILIPSBURG – The United People’s Party (UP) Board Leader of the UP Theodore Heyliger would like to wish all students, parents, teachers, support staff, and school boards a productive and happy New School Year 2016-2017 as thousands go back to school on Monday.
Education is a right and it prepares the nation’s youth for the future prosperity of country Sint Maarten.
“The new school year is not only about marks and grades, but also about preparing the nation’s youth with the skills and values that one is required for the challenges that country Sint Maarten would face tomorrow.
“Our schools are institutions of learning that presents opportunities to grow academically and become in the end productive citizens of our communities. In order for our young people to excel, as a nation and as a community we need to adopt a long-term view of education.
“When we look at learning today, we need to embrace the ‘skillset’ of a future Sint Maarten taking into consideration a changing world with changing demands and skills and knowledge. We are an open economy that provides services to visitors who will have a certain level of expectation.
“As a country, 21st century learning for Sint Maarten is about fostering a culture of lifelong learning amongst our people. It’s about redefining and transitioning from examinations, grades to learning for mastery, learning throughout life, thereby creating innovators for prosperity.
“The new school year will also be demanding for parents and teachers as well as school boards in order to ensure quality education and to move the system to the next level to the benefit of all those who attend school. Parents have to remain as partners in education.
“In order for our young learners to continue to excel, they will need the support of the entire community, and as the African saying goes: ‘It takes a village to raise a child,’ therefore we need all hands on deck. We wish all a happy, healthy and harmonious 2016-2017 school year,” Vice President Tatiana Arrindell said on Sunday on behalf of the UP Party Board President Silvia Meyers-Olivacee.
