There is mutual interest in the education systems of Barbados and the United States (US).
This was made clear recently when US Ambassador to Barbados, Linda Taglialatela, paid a courtesy call on Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ronald Jones, at the Elsie Payne Complex, Constitution Road, St. Michael.
Stating that she looked forward to partnering with the Ministry, Ambassador Taglialatela expressed interest in the island???s A Ganar program, with its role in addressing at-risk students.
???I think that is a very admirable program and one of the things that I would like to do is go out to some of the schools and spend some time with the little ones ??? Some of the Embassy team would like very much to be able to engage with the schools, to talk and work with them and where we can help, we certainly want to,??? she said.
Emphasising that education was very dear to her, Ms. Taglialatela said it was sometimes disheartening because of the tendency to put less money into this discipline than other areas.
???The older I get the more I realise how important education is in developing and training the next generation of leaders. And, I think in some ways we are falling short across the globe, trying to find ways to build those young people and the skills they need, not only to succeed in life, but just the basic skills of how to take care of yourself when you graduate from high school,??? she stressed.
Mr. Jones welcomed the Ambassador???s interest in schools under the A Ganar program, and praised the US Embassy for its ???effective??? public relations and communications. He also expressed appreciation to the Embassy for its donation of books and other items over the years, adding that he looked forward to the continuation of that outreach.
The Education Minister noted that the island???s public sector had, over time, been the beneficiary of training through Harvard Business School; that there were ongoing nursery education initiatives with Wheelock College in Boston; and an impending Memorandum of Understanding with Georgia State University.
He also informed the Ambassador that Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, Early Childhood Education and Autism Education were priority areas in which the US Embassy could further lend assistance.
Barbados and the United States of America established diplomatic ties in 1966.
joy-ann.gill@barbados.gov.bb