Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE is encouraging officials working in the education and culture sectors to be good educational stewards, and create innovative learning environments that motivate students to think critically, collaborate effectively, lead efficiently and be competitive.

Premier Smith in an address to Virgin Islands’ educators yesterday January 11, stated that the Government of the Virgin Islands is working to ensure that all citizens, at every level, have an opportunity and the skills to reach their full potential and can contribute to the social and economic development of the Territory.

He said that every person working within the education and culture sectors plays an integral role to ensure that the Government’s vision for the educational development of the people of the Virgin Islands, and particularly our youth, is realised.

Premier Smith stated “We are implementing a ‘standards-based’ curriculum that focuses on a learner centered approach where lessons are designed to respond to individual learning needs. This means that as good educational stewards, we must create innovative learning environments that motivate our students to think critically, collaborate effectively, lead efficiently and be competitive.”

He added, “We all have a responsibility to stay attuned with the unique skills and interests of our children and help to channel these talents into specialised areas of professional development.”

The Premier explained that this was important so that those students in the educational care will then be inclined to pursue areas today that can fill tomorrow’s economic gaps in our community, and by extension, the world.

The Premier further added that his focus as Minister of Finance and development is to ensure that the economy of the country develops, so that everyone has the opportunity to live, work and have a satisfactory life. In order to do that, he reiterated his reliance on all Ministers including the Minister of Education to prepare the young and old people in this country, to be able to take advantage of the opportunities being brought.

The Government will be implementing several initiatives to improve and develop the economy which will also be announced in the coming weeks. Additional speakers at the annual event included the Minister for Education and Culture, Honourable Myron V. Walwyn and Deputy Governor, Mrs. V. Inez Archibald.

The Ministry of Education and Culture is committed to creating a “Culture of Excellence” in all the Territory’s educational institutions.