On this week’s episode of A Chat with the Community, panelists discussed the importance of registering students for the public school system in a timely manner.

School Registration Officer in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Ms. Gemi Evans said that parents should pay attention to the registration deadlines and to submit their applications online.

She said, “Help us, help you.  Principals and teachers need the adequate amount of time to prepare and plan schedules for students. So send in your applications with the necessary documents now…. The deadline for applications is April 30.”

Also on the panel was Early Childhood Officer, Ms. Genevieve McMaster who gave insight into the registration process for children five years of age.

“The age for accepting children into the school system is five years of ages in September. Considerations are made if the child is four years old and will be five years old by the end of February the following year. A parent wishing to have their child placed in Kindergarten before the accepted age will need to have the child go through a special examination process to assess if the child is indeed ready for the Kindergarten level,” Ms. McMaster said.

Registration for Kindergarten, Grade 6 and homeschooling along with school placement, registration requirements and guidelines were also topics of discussion on the programme.

To view this week’s episode of A Chat with the Community follow the link:   https://www.facebook.com/BVIGovernment/videos/850501979136084/

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture is informing the public that registration is open for the 2021-2022 academic school year.

Persons seeking to have students placed in the Virgin Islands education system can access the application forms at early childhood centres and at the ministry on the third floor of Ward’s Building or by calling 468-2757. Application forms can also be downloaded from the Government’s website or by using the links: For Non-Virgin Islanders http://www.bvi.gov.vg/services/application-entry-virgin-islands-schools-non-virgin-islanders For Virgin Islanders http://www.bvi.gov.vg/services/application-entry-virgin-islands-schools-virgin-islanders

Photo: School Registration Officer in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Ms. Gemi Evans a panelist on A Chat with the Community on Wednesday, January 27.