Education Minister Petter Saint Jean has revealed that the government of Dominica has engaged former Minister for Social Services, Community Development and Gender Affairs, Gloria Shillingford as a consultant to investigate the increase cases of dropouts among students on the island.
The minister made that announcement while delivering an address at the Dominica Association of Teachers (DAT) 13th Biennial Conference, held at the St Alphonsus Parish Hall in Goodwill on Wednesday.
“The government of the Commonwealth of Dominica has engaged Mrs. Gloria Shillingford to investigate the causes of dropouts among our students and to make recommendations to the Ministry of Education in dealing with this problem which affects every one of us in the Dominican society,” he said. “I wish to advise and inform that against the serious challenges that confront us within the classroom and the wider community, and of course within the Ministry of Education and government been quite aware of the multiplicity of social issues which may result from an increased number of students who drop out from the school system.”
Additionally, he said, in the coming months the government will address a number of issues which impact personally on the performance of teachers and officers within the Ministry of Education.
“It is our hope that we will see increase motivation and output from all,” Saint Jean stated.
Meantime, Shillingford told Dominica News Online that the government, particularly the Ministry of Education is very concerned about a “relatively high” dropout rate, “particularly in our secondary schools.”
“We are investigating into the matter at both secondary and primary schools, and I will be doing that and giving my findings to the government and also my recommendations,” she noted. “My recommendations, my reports, everything has to be done within a year.”
The 13 th Biennial Conference is being celebrated under the theme: “Impacting Behavioural Change to Combat Global Warming.”
Ebeh look it! Another Bannis-Roberts job for the girls handout
But lets be honest, You mean our ministry of Education and Dominica on a whole have no technical expertise among the youn that can do a simple job at this one? Last month was Tim-tim, this month is Glo-glo, at thatbrate next month we may see Crazy as Senior Technical Advisor to the Ministry Of Legal Affairs and Assistant Commissioner Of Police anchorage of major crimes
This country has lost its mind.
Always Assertive!
All you daft people have to do is ask the teachers. Bu no, that’d be too simple wouldn’t it……
Yeah, education galor…..NOT!
https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/educationyouth/every-secondary-and-college-student-now-equiped-with-tablets/
https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/educationyouth/saint-jean-reports-success-in-education/
How do you define a job’s program ( or hook -up) for party stalwarts? Answer: Hire a consultant to investigate the increase cases of dropouts among students on the island.
Man these guys are like kids in a candy store: they go crazy except this store is the Dominican Treasury.
It’s only a derivative of a society that celebrate the foolishness whiles shaming and billing the intelligent.
Bullying ***
How can we possibly expect a factual, unbiased report under these circumstances? Imagine, just imagine for a moment, that Teacher Gloria submits a report that finds fault- or criticises the government for the failings of our education system? Would she be brave and bold enough to confront the government, the hand that feeds her and approved of her appointment? And will her report be published? Ms. Shillingford can hardly be termed an independent examiner but, who knows, miracles do happen. I hope so for the sake of our children and the future of our country.
There was someone assigned to investigate increased rate of homosexuality
at our sschools..Did we ever hear from that person?Wonder how much that person was paid?Is the person still employed doing that said assignment?..Who vex lost,,,,but I will continue to say under this DLP,a regime that lies,cheats and steals,Dominica is nothing more than a failed state…
In a real country the minister responsible would first be fired for creating a dropout culture and then find an honest person to person to investigate the problem that was created by the failed minister of dropouts created in his 16 years as the minister. The fact that Saint Jean is now finally admitting he he has failed and has only succeeded in creating a drop out culture, with him being the Drop out minister, Dominicans should be out raged and call for his resignation and that of the entire government.
Country is going backward instead of forward.
And the cow is constantly milked…………
But the answer to dropouts is right there you know. After 15 years of failure by this government of which Gloria was part of and still is part of, though Skerrit fired her for her failure, to see her rewarded with another position, when so many high school and university graduate cannot get a job, does that encourage young people to stay in school? I encourage our young people to stay in school because this evil administration will not be there forever , but yes I do understand their sense of frustration and hopelessness especially when one takes into consideration the fact that Skerrit is only able to create employment for failed ministers like Gloria, Timothy, Ambrose and those that will help promote his corrupt agenda like; mano, Alick, Ricky and others likeminded
SMDH!
me too
A special consultant is not what is needed .Change is what is needed .Children who have diffulcty learning should be provided with alternatives ,eg home economics , or woodwork ,technical drawing ,art .Also remedial remefial teachers should be made available to children who suffer from dyslexia. Children who suffer from ADHD should be provided an en viroment where they can thrive ,not always be told they are troublesome and a disruption to the class. Deal with the issues ,modernise move forward .The children deserve a safe enlightened environent to grow and to reach there potential.
I agree, but dyslexia is an ability, not a disability. Sadly, in the classroom environment, their brilliance is misunderstood. Leonardo da Vinci, Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein were dyslexic.
So you put a past Government Minister to investigate Government work, what a joke. Give me a brake. I am sure if you had taken independent persons to do that some Agency would fund this project.
Why not the retired teachers, they could have done a good job I do love mrs Goria Shillingford but we can do better than that. The people are really joking, stop this nonsense man.
Back in the early 1980s, she used to be my teacher; I was between age 5 – 9yrs old with a bladder problem. I remember asking her several times to be excused to used the bathroom, and she would always refused and not allowed me to use the bathroom. I would then urinate on myself in my clothes in the classroom in the presence of other students since I could no longer hold it. She would then beat me and demand I cleanup up the floor. I would have to go out get that metal container with a piece of rag and clean that floor in the class in the presence of other students. This was happened all the time. I’m now in my 40s and I will never forget the this woman did to me. I will die with her on my mind. ***She needs to “INVESTIGATE” how her wickedness, physical and emotional abuse affected traumatized past students of hers***
I sympathize with you. I too have a story. The very people who would throw children out of school without properly investigating their circumstances are the very people who have now been engaged/employed to find out why there is such a high, school drop-out.
oh yes harper she is the reason i left school for getting a detention everytime i did not bring a exploring english book . my parents cold not find that book and never did she allow me in her class . she was the worst teacher in the likes of giving children secound chances how can she investigate the reason now ; plain foolish and selfishness.
This is an abuse (Physical and mental and emotional) matter to be referred to the Welfare Division and to be advocated by the NGO Coalition. Here is genuine and reported work to take up. many others.
Do we know how many others were subjected to that kind of abuse?
Wahapn? She brokes man!
The money finish?
Come collect some more on the backs of the tax payers
The first place Gloria has to start her investigation is in Skerro’s office. Find out how many jobs DLP has created for the kids who left school last year!
So already you are three quarter way done with your work. The kids do not see a future for in Da, There is no reward for their education, so why complete school when they will do the same jobs as those who did not?
Gloria , you have now find yourself a job , now it is time to find the young people who voted for DLP a job too.
How many boys and girls are school dropouts? For those in high school, the subjects could be more difficult. The only way to get to the root of these dropouts is:
First of all, speak to the teachers and request an overall school report of those dropouts.
Secondly, speak to their parents separately.
Thirdly, speak to those dropouts separately.
Lastly, arrange a meeting with all three, if this is possible. You will learn much from both parents and dropouts.
The teachers must be alert to their demeanor in school. When in school how attentive were they?
Homework is very important and studying after school. Do they do their homework? Is there something which disrupted them from doing their homework? If any, what is it? The dropouts may be in need of extra curriculum studies.
There may also be personal reasons why they dropout from school.
You may have to concentrate on these prior to make a decision and take steps to probably encourage them to return to school.
You are doing it again. You just want to give somebody a job, whilst the school leavers are there languishing. Can you tell us the result of your investigat5ion of the deviant behaviour and anti social behaviour in particular homosexuality in the schools in Dominica? You are the one who should be investigated. You are full of bedspread, sheet, blanket and counterpane.
Well the answer for the drop outs is right here, spelt in this article. The drop out is due to the lack of job so why waste my time. No jobs cause retired folks are rehired. So is either the parents cannot find a job to prepare breakfast or buy the books so the kids drop out or the kids following the trends and not wasting their time. How many of the 2015 graduates are placed in jobs….much less for 2016. Just a thought
So we have a problem with students dropping out of the education system? No surprise really when they can pass to secondary education without passing exam and the primary school making sure they are ready or qualified for that. What do you expect. I feel sorry for these children. Some come to secondary school and can not read or write properly. P.M. is ok. He can send his son to an expensive boarding school in the U.S. I hear.
Teacher Glor was promised a UNESCO job to get her to step down for Athenia to run the last elections. Since that did not materialise, they hand out this consultancy to her.
that’s right skerro. put wood on them. no grease. more jobs for the peeps while the poor suffers. wood them wood them according to tazzi. is so they like it.
Skerrit just using Gloria and she can’t seem to see it that way. It is a good idea but I don’t think she is qualified. Skerrit just trying to secure vote at Wesley for next election. most kids drop out of school because their parents can’t afford to keep them there, school fees and clothing too much.
So who is fooling who? I really think the Honourable Minister does not see anything wrong with this appointment
wot a dumb idea, pure stupidity from government minister. man, what should be encourage is home economic programme where the poorer student use to have A MEAL prepared by the staff and student from that department.
feed them children, that would encourage them, also, more teching of technical and vocational subject such as arts and craft.
the student want to be engage in meaningful subject, instead, too much emphasis is place on acadamic subjects that serves limited purpose.
These children can feel intimidated by their surrounding in a classroom of brighter students, the solution is to allow them to harness their skill and talent on the technical subject with some emphasis place on the four core subject from a basic level.
The idea is important for the primary school but most importantly the secondary school student would benefit.
Minister of education, please go the schools and listen to the needs of the children rather that come up wid ridiculus plan which is a waste of money.
Wasn’t she a government minister 10 years ago? Why was she not asked to investigate drop out that she, Skerrit and the DLP created? Teacher Glow all the respect you earned you entire life you allowed it to get swept away, when you joined yourself with Skt in the destruction of Dominica. Teacher Glo, you will go down in history as the minister that destroyed our once vibrant village councils . You were the one that installed Skerrit’ s aunt as chairperson of viellecase village council, when Skerrit is pm. Skerrit destroyed you so badly that he kicked you out as his dlp candidate and replaced you with a woman with no high school education, at a time when you did not want to go and ur constituents did want you to go. In other words, indirectly Skerrit said you couldn’t do your job and you have the guts to stoop so low and take his job girl?. What a shame you and Justina have been to Dominican women!
The corrupt DLP continues to employ the boys… Ambruisee Pwen Couwe,,, Aloe for Roseau,Shanks,Gloria,TimTim…..Poverty and indigency among the several broken homes should be the major reason for the high drop out rate.Remember this current DLP HAS impoverished the nation…Unemployment, and families not being able to survive is another reason.
Mr. Minister of education you do not need to waste money. I can tell you why. It is the result of universal secondary education. You allowed kids to go to secondary school with the needed resources. Some cannot spell thier names, others do not know thier 2 times tables and not everyone is onto academic. The JSP program was great until the then minister of education now PM thought sending everyone to HS was a novel idea. No special needs teachers, no support for learning development. It is a result of yet another great political idea but absolutely destructive for students. Save tax payers money on your phoney consulting.
Where is the result of the report on increase homosexulity in school. Is investigation still ongoing. DNO you guys need to do follow-up stories on these officials. Both government and opposition. You guys doing great job but need to do more keep these politicians on thier toes. You cannot go wrong looking out for the country. I do not care which party.
I am confused, recently, petter St. Jean was on DNO saying the education system is working in Dominica, Now we have the Saint Gloria coming to investigate a very obvious problem. I am sure the very competent staff in the Education Science and Technology building can do this very simple survey. But I can give Gloria her result she will find student drop out because of poor economic background, untrained teachers in the system, who keep failing the slow learners, and lack of resources, unmotivated teachers. I HATE when SKerrit and Petter pretend like they don’t know what is wrong with the system.
their consciences have to drown them…..doh worry they CANNOT SLEEP IN PEACE……and trust me they cannot comfortabely enjoy the money….the blood of these poor and vulnerable children are upon their backs. They created the avenue for poor peoples’ childern to drop out from school with their USE which they knew the education system was not ready for. We wait to hear Cecila Nicholas (DAT President on the matter). Asked for the chief of Education…she is the worst thing that ever happened to education in the history of D/ca…..wicked…boy, look incompetence.
Boyyy!!! the idea not wrong but Mrs. Shilligford, She is retired please give the youths of this island a chance to, we hungry to Dr. Skerrit, according to all u all shall eat. smfh
This is yet another indictment of the performance of the Skerrit administration. Ministry of Education and the Skerrit administration are failing the students. I can guarantee you that the results that they will come up with will put all the blame on the student, family and community and none on the establishment that is responsible for managing education, starting with the minster himself. It does not take a rocket scientist to understand what is happening to our education system. Additionally, there are lots of studies gathering dust in the shelves which would shed much light on how to address the problems.
Commendable initiative. Would love to see the methodology to be used for this research.
These jokers keep on finding all kind of ridiculous ways to find jobs for their own.
How then does Roosevelt & his clan of sycophants not find ways to provide jobs for ordinary people?
DNO, could your investigative journalists research the following & relate the findings to the public:
1. Is this consultant going to be working for free or will she be paid from the treasury of the state?
2. Who will Roosvelt Skerrit hire to find out why there has been an unusual amount of rain in this dry season so far.
P.S. – By the way DNO, have your investigative journalists done any research into dat young farmers group in Penville which got $100,000 dollars the other day from Skerrit supposedly for farming purposes? DNO has your investigative journalists checked to see whether [or which of] dem fellas in dat group are actually farmers?
According to an online source, a farmer can be defined as someone who “operates a farm or cultivates land.”
So you mean to tell me everybidy that work in skerrit administration, when they lose their pisition he jyst p aying them for doing nothing?
look it seem lije all teacher gloria hair dropping off.
What is she going to find out about drop off? And if she finds out anything what is peter pepper going to do? Gloria,go and relax yourself.
skerrit just putting peop,e in useless p I sition. Like the former Castle Bruce Parl Rep. Why is skerrit paying her thousands of tax payers money?
Who does she report to? Where does she work?
anyway,God is not a police and he does not sleep
Time for dominicans to open their eyes.
Dominica needs a revolution.
Could it be that what appears to be an “education” problem is really part of a larger “life” problem?
Young people drop out of school for a variety of reasons but sometimes for a combination of these treasons.
Studies have shown that marijuana damages a part of the brain responsible for memory and learning. Stats show students who smoke marijuana on a regular basis often experience a drop in grades, and more often drop out of school.
Schools should provide vocational counseling for students to help them decide what they would like to do for a living. Especially in high school they should have a better choice of subjects that would be meaningful for those on that particular career path.
Studies have shown students who smoke the weed on a regular basis often experience a drop in grades, and more frequently drop out of school.
Often parents do not show enough interest in their children’s education and choice of a career.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
Another classical Skerrit manoeuvre. Employing a former government minister on a consultancy basis to investigate something does does not need investigating. The answer to the problem is staring in everyone’s face: most young people know that there a no jobs after their years in school or in other words no motivation no point in putting in a special effort. Some other youth have already identified other areas in make a living (I won’t elaborate on the job description) but suffice to say, no special education needed for either of them. Skerrit obviously is not aware of this simple equation but again chooses to waste money on a former minister to give him that same result in 10 month time.
Your comment is one-sided and negative. Actually, you are assuming what they think and this wrong. You cannot think for people. They must do this on their own. It would be wise to ask them why they drop-out of school.
There is a bigger picture why there are school drop-outs which may have no bearing about not obtaining jobs and which you are not able to fathom.
I am not thinking for people at all, I just listen to them and observe what they are doing. That is the difference between you and me, I am sitting right here in Dominica where as you sit 1000 miles away from here and comment nonsense on hear-say all viewed through a pair of bright red spectacles. Why don’t you find a Canadian news website and entertain THEM with your warped views. Paying religious lip service does not make you a good person nor does your blind DLP propaganda make you a patriot. By the way, when last did you spend any time in Dominica? I rest my case!
@ Face the Facts: you are a classical clown, go grow a brain and some empathy
Music Producer, you are no music producer but one posing as one. A music producer is a sensible, happy and peaceful person, generating same to everyone.
Your problem is as some others, you are too bent on criticisms and negativism, always blaming the government when you should place the blame elsewhere.
It is foolish to assume that students dropout because they feel there are no jobs or will not be for them. What kind of fool is that to make such a foolish comment and mistake? Some of you have no sense whatsoever.
You should consider that they are still young and when they leave school and/ or graduate, the situation will not be the same after some years.
Who knows what the future holds? It is futile for any student to think about this except to attend to their studies and do their utmost to graduate.
You and these critics lack intelligence and common sense. The pot always calls the kettle black.
Same people, disgraced in one venue, back in another.
Are you saying a person does not deserve a second chance?
If somebody fails once
Is it a bad thing if they have the courage to
“fail, and start again at their beginnings, …
and never breath a word about their loss”?
Not a bad thing at all
It shows insight, and strength of character. For some of the greatest people in history it is the story of their lives.
Because a person did not do well in a particular field or job it is no proof they do not have the ability to succeed in something else. If this was the case many of us would have given up long ago. Some of us got up and kept going, while others dropped out and joined the spectators.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
Shut up Peter. It’s quite worrisome how stupid the disciples of the cursed dumb lazy party are. One might think that they at least have half pound of commonsense in their head but unfortunately there’s not even an ounce. Much like an Eveready battery, these RED preprogramed robots are on standby 24/7 patiently waiting on a call from people like Petter Saint Jean to say jump and these escalating happily oblige. In fact these guys are so out of touch with reality that all Skeritt has to do to win the next election is take the exact same manifesto from 2014, keep all the April fools content within it the same, then just slap 2019 or 2020 on the cover and these idiots will think that it’s future tense and not past tense and their beloved doctor will continue to be recognized as “the great I am.” Then as a reward for their devotion, Destra’s well sought after boom boom will be flown in FedEx as a visual treat to be showcased in the RED revelry.
You seems a disgruntled Dominican whe re you are. .Your comment visit a disgrace learn to respect people.
@D/can to de Bone (F) March 30, 2016
You are right on point! I share your sentiment; I say Amen to that!
I think students drop out simply because there is no light at the end of the tunnel meaning no exciting job prospect after graduation. As simple as this.
LOL @ Mr. Crapo.. perfect example y students drop out, The retired get most opportunities
You are right
I would not state that. There are other reasons why they dropout. Why do you not ask a few, if you know them? Ask them why and wait for their response.
Very interesting i just wish that her terms of reference were spelled out in Black and White to give us a better understanding of what is really going on; otherwise it\’s job for the girls???? l Iook forward to her findings being published in it\’s entirety for the whole world to see. Transparency is the watchword madame.
Hopefully, Ms. Shillingford will have help because this is a huge undertaking. Many elementary/high school dropouts have a learning disability. If the school, parent and child do not know that the student has a learning disability then Ms. Shillingford is not going to find out the real reason for that student dropping out. She should be accompanied by someone to test the students to see if they need special help.
Some may have “a slower” learning capability. This must be ascertained by speaking to the teacher and also the school dropouts.
Well, Skerrit had to find a job for me biological cousin, after he cast her aside as an old used up old shoe, for another less efficient biological cousin.
Gloria, it is time that you stop allowing Skerrit to make a damn fool out of you, what amount of drop out student can you investigate in a place like Dominica with a handful amount of people. I hope that you conscience will guide you not to live off the blood of our nations poor.
Be contented with you retirement pension from your days of teaching school, and go along with your life: become pure again and leave Skerrit, and his corrupted behavior, let him drown in his sins. Advise cousin Athena to return to Canada and ensure that she secure her social security benefits before she reach the age of seventy, if she neglect now what she will receive by the time she is seventy years old will not be enough to live on.
And by the way tell Athena she still owe the rent of our fathers house,which she messed up, and by the time she…
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque,
Why don’t you come to Dominica to resolve your issues?
You live in the states for all those years, you should be concern with Trump not Skerrit.
You have no interest in our country save your comments.
But Boy/Girl how you so fool nuh?
First you suggest I come to Dominica to resolve my issues, then you advised me to worry about Trump and not the corrupted Mountain Chicken Crapo (Carpaud) Mentality Dr. Of Nothing; Zero Roosevelt Skerrit. So, let me inform you that I have nothing in Wesley to resolve, except Skerrit Labor Party through Athena, and Gloria, used our father’s house to play politics, and messed it; left it without paying the rent.
By the time Athena was finished she called police to arrest my sister Bernie! Tell Skerrit he need to pay the rent owed.
And learn this, in America, we do not care who win or loose, life goes on, we do not depend on the politicians for nothing, there is a system which works for one and all, whether the economy is slow or pumping, some of us do not know about it, because our life continues without change. If Trump wins, nothing in America will change, because the running of America, depends not on a dictator like Skerrit alone.
Ever…
@WESLEY MAN March 30, 2016
Your comment is both humorous and serious. I had to laugh pertaining to Trump; but you have spoken the truth. This man is doing nothing more than seeking attention–but he will only get that attention when he speaks against PM Skerrit–only here on this news blog anyway.
He cannot leave LA, not even if he wanted to do so–there are many reasons for that; I know quite a few of those reasons. That is why he is speaking those negative and against his own homeland; it is his excuse. But that is a sorry situation!
What type of conversationalist could you make? Your comments are negative and disrespectful. They lack encouragement.
Yours are biased and ridiculous and does not represent the poverty situation and corrupt government in Dominica.
viewsexpressed, you have the audacity of stating my views are biased. Yours is downright ridiculous; always blaming the government. Some of you are sick and need to have your brains examined. You appear to be useless to Dominica. God alone knows why you are still alive on this earth. If you do not brace yourself to do something good for Dominica, you will miss out on a lot, both earthly and spiritually. Get with it and cease your criticism and hatred. Some of you are too prone to consistently being negative. You have nothing good to contribute to Dominica. Yet, you criticize others. You live as this and you will die as this. You are doomed.
@The Facts I wish I could give 1, 000 thumbs up!
Always Assertive!
you mean her son in law house??
Let me tell you something, and say I told you, our parents left that house the Izine, Bernie and Watts, everything they left is in one persons name, and it is not in my brother Watts name the person who has power of attorney over all the land and what have you is Penelope (Izine), so Athena can believe what she wish. My father died and left six about six or seven siblings including me, three or four of us got nothing: As for me I do not even want what I own in Dominica never mind what they left.
If She is under the impression that is son-in-law ting Let her set her foot there and see if you will not have to bail her out nuh!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahah!
Athena head a lie and she believed it, but she had better be careful, since she turn against us for Mountain Chicken Skerrit
And before I forget, and you do not know her son-in-law is my brother, brother to my sister she called police to arrest! She is lucky I contained my other sister from going to Dominic and deal with her, otherwise all of them might get arrested.
Athena simply feel she is some kind of big time politician since Skerrit gave her a script to read, by the time she was threw reading it, when she thought she was humiliating Lennox she destroyed herself.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
She did not know she was confirming the good and great reputation of an almost impeccable Lennox Linton oui! I told her she need to apologize to Bernie, and it will all be over, all she is prepared to ask me is if Bernie is the same sister that curs me out.
Well, me and my sister had a fight, she curse, I curse out, but we do not have to be enemy, and we are not, Athena is not even my enemy I’m simply upset with her!
Your cousins will be good for you. Son you brave eh! But Dominicans say although you offend you tell no lies.
CORRUPT PRACTICES CONTINUE IN THAT COUNTRY. How can you give a former minister a contract to do a task without advertising the task for public consumption. What skill does gloria bring that cannot be found in other parts of Dominica. Continue milking the cow with you all’s corrupt practices,
Are there no limits to this government? Truly, a people deserves the government they permit.
smh. another job opportunity created for the a DLP member. The situation with school dropouts…isn’t this a matter for the technical division of the Ministry of Education which is staffed by persons who are quite competent to do that study and make recommendations?This is this part of the management of the school system, the responsibility of the principals of schools and the Chief Education Officer and her technical staff.
Guess they not doing thier jobs. I try to stay positive but it seems like everything those guys do is counter productive and they do not give a darn what people think. It cannot be more clear than that that all these positions are created to recycle loyalist and sympathisers. Makes me wonder if that is shut up positions. Keep them happy so they will not expose the wrongs at the expense of honest Dominicans.