From:TheBahamasWeekly.com
Education For A Modern Bahamas: University of The Bahamas To Fulfill National Development Mandate
By Bahamas Information Services
Jul 13, 2016 - 6:29:26 PM
Nassau, The Bahamas – Today marked a milestone in the fulfillment of a 14-year vision, with the move to second reading in the House of Assembly of the Bill to establish the University of The Bahamas.
Member of Parliament for Marathon and Minister of Education, Science and Technology, the Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald, opened debate on the Bill noting, “our Government has a vision for higher education that is progressive and meets the needs of our ever-changing population. This vision is for a national university in The Bahamas.”
Minister Fitzgerald highlighted that eventual passage of this Bill will bring about “change for a stronger and more modern Bahamas for everyone.”
The transformation to a University will have the country see improvements in academics, service, infrastructure and financial management.
These improvements coupled with the Government’s more than doubling of its investment in scholarships since 2011 from $7.75 million to $16.2 million in 2016, is enhancing the capacity to ensure quality of education for Bahamians, especially young people, to empower them to reach higher and contribute to the national development of the nation.
Minister Fitzgerald distinguished that “the University of The Bahamas Bill is drafted with the future in mind...[it] incorporates the concept for the entire country and one that will not be a Nassau-centric institution.” The bill would not only establish the University, but allow for growth and expansion of the University throughout the islands of The Bahamas to reach every Bahamian throughout the archipelago.
Some colleges that will fall under the umbrella of the University of The Bahamas will include the College of Anthropology and Sustainability Studies in San Salvador, the College of Engineering and Technology in Grand Bahama, the Bahamas Agricultural and Marine Sciences Institute (BAMSI) in Andros, and other colleges to be expanded into the future.
Minister Fitzgerald also noted that BAMSI is carrying out innovative work and is the brain child of Prime Minister Perry Christie. Last week, the first 23 students to ever graduate from BAMSI were honoured at a special ceremony at which the Governor General, Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Science and Technology and others attended. The Government is committed to maximizing the success of BAMSI, which includes incorporating it into the national university system.
Minister Fitzgerald underscored that, “once the Bill to establish the University of The Bahamas has been passed, the university-transition process will not come to an end. This long-term, evolutionary strategy involves understanding that improving the quality of the services for our students and enhancing the student-life experience is a continuous process.”
This journey towards an institution that will be a centre for excellence, a hub for intellectual expertise and creation of new knowledge will be one to benefit all people of The Bahamas.
The Minister paid homage to the Prime Minister for his vision to establish the University of The Bahamas in 2002 and his role in shaping national development.
Once this Bill is passed, the Government will have delivered on every promise in its Charter for Governance on education. In doing so, the Government is continuing to empower Bahamians to unite and build a stronger, and more modern Bahamas, together.
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