The Government of Saint Lucia has partnered with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), to fund a 4-year scholarship program for teachers.

The program forms part of the Education Quality Improvement Project (EQUIP), which is geared toward enhancing capacity to improve teacher quality, the relevance of education, and instructional effectiveness across the education sector. Scholarship awardees will be trained in a variety of areas including education for gifted learners, curriculum and instructions, school counselling and social work, art education, and music education.

The Minister with responsibility for Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development, Hon. Dr. Gale Rigobert, stated that the initiative is an effort to respond to existing and emerging needs in the education sector.

“You will have observed based on the areas highlighted that we are catering for the multiple intelligences of our students, to ensure that indeed no child is left behind,” she said.

Pertra Jerson, a scholarship awardee who will be attending the Micro University College in Jamaica, is among 18 who received scholarships.

“Jan Promess and myself, we are going to complete our masters in Social Work and Counselling, and we hope to come back and to implement what we’ve learnt,” she said. “It is an area which is much needed in the education sector. We are sincerely grateful for this opportunity.”

The first cohort of scholars will leave the island on Aug. 22.