OECS Secretariat Facilitates Scholarship awards to French Tertiary Institutions
January 29th, 2008
OECS Secretariat, Castries St. Lucia, January 29th 2008: A group of students from St. Lucia and Dominica have been awarded university scholarships arranged by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Secretariat.
Nelisa Remy, Cecil Lubin, Sherisa Richards, Tamara Edward, Chrystal Francis and Vincia Lando will attend public technical and vocational institutions in Guadeloupe but are currently in Martinique for a six month intensive French language course.
Head of the OECS Education Reform Unit Dr. Henry Hinds says the French Embassy has been instrumental in the programme. He told the media the project has been arranged with some funding provided by France to the OECS a few years ago. The Education Reform Unit has decided to use the funds through the training programme for young people from the OECS in areas that are in great demand in the region such as refrigeration, hospitality training, heating systems and construction.
Hinds further
explained the importance of the students familiarizing themselves with the French language before attending university in any French territory: “In our negotiations with France, Guadeloupe and Martinique we were made aware that in order to study in the French territories their level of French must be exceedingly good; not only conversational but these young people will have to be taking notes, listening to lectures and writing all their papers in French. Although they are well qualified in their areas of expertise we had to seek a way to ensure that they were able to do the work in French.”
Responding on behalf of the scholarship recipients Nelisa Remy pledged to make the OECS proud through academic performance and by being good OECS ambassadors: “We are thankful to the French Government and the OECS Secretariat for choosing us. We will be representing the OECS as ambassadors. We will maintain our high personality there, do our best and make everybody proud”.
In congratulating the scholarship recipients Director General of the OECS Dr. Len Ishmael enlightened them on the lucrative opportunities available in their field of study. Dr. Ishmael noted areas such as the health and wellness sector including food and beverage as well as refrigeration maintenance on yachts. However, the OECS Director General also warned the scholarship recipients against forgetting the basic techniques while they are exposed to advanced training. This she explained will help the
students to easily bridge any digital divide when applying their knowledge following graduation. The Director General pledged that the OECS Secretariat will be keeping in touch with the scholarship recipients to facilitate their progress as they study abroad.
