by Emmanuel H. Joseph
Government Information Service
Over two hundred and thirty (230) students graduated from four faculties of the Dominica State College on Friday, 7th November, 2008. The ceremony, which took place at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium, was held under the theme: “Celebrating Our Success, Anticipating Our Future”.
Graduating Class DSC 2008
President of Dominica, His Excellency Dr. Nicholas J. O. Liverpool and his wife, Attorney General Francine Baron-Royer, Minister for Education, Human Resource Development, Youth Affairs and Sports, Hon. Vince Henderson, President and other members of the board of governors of the State College, guest speaker, Justice Irvin André, senior members of the Ministry of Education among others were in attendance at Friday’s ceremony.
In his address, Chairman of the board of governors of the Dominica State College (DSC), Dr. Gerald Grell, took time off to highlight the accomplishment of the board in its tenure as it sought to further realise the mission of the DSC to be the premier tertiary level institution for higher education in Dominica.
“We are witnessing the development of linkages with other institutions of higher education, such as the University of the West Indies (UWI) and UTECH within the Caribbean and Wales in the United Kingdom and several universities in the United States of America. All in the interest of providing students with opportunities to advance their education beyond an Associate Degree and to provide faculty with exposure to a new technology, research and access to further post-graduate training.”
Dr. Gerald Grell – Chairman, Board of Governors, Dominica State College
Dr. Grell also spent time sharing the board’s vision both current and in the future.
“We see the College as the main engine for the social and economic betterment for the people. We see the College as preparing the youth for their role as future leaders in their communities. We see the College as providing the technical and academic skills, so necessary for managing our own affairs, as an independent nation. We see you, the students, as the critical mass for the explosive development of Dominica, filled with the energy of entrepreneurship, armed with a spirit of optimism, fully prepared to meet and conquer whatever challenges lie ahead.”
Meanwhile, Education Minister, Hon. Vince Henderson, told graduants
that they were graduating at a time that despite many challenges that
they face especially with the global economy being in turmoil, there
is much to hope for especially in the light of Senator Barack Obama
being elected President of the United States.
Minister for Education, Human Resource Development, Youth Affairs and Sports: Hon. Vince Henderson
“You are graduating at a time when the capitalist system, propelled by greed, has resulted in the greatest financial disaster that we have ever seen and which threatens the world economy. But alas, we are graduating at a time when Barack Obama has been elected as the President of what could be considered the greatest nation on earth. This serve to be an inspiration to all of us, not only to people of colour, but to all of us because his determination, his discipline, hard work and most all of, the passion with which he pursued his dream should inspire all of us that, despite of where we are from, despite of our origin, despite our parentage that we can achieve great things.”
The Minister extended special thanks to the Cuban Government for
their assistance especially in the faculty of health.
“I wish to recognise
the contribution of what is often referred to as ‘our Cuban collaborators’
in this initiative. That we were able, for the first time in our history,
after thirty years of Independence, to accept, in the faculty of health
sciences, one hundred (100) students. Unfortunately, along the way,
we lost some students and today we see fifty-seven (57) of you graduating,
the biggest number ever of a graduating class of nurses.”
Some of the graduating nursing class
Hon. Henderson also took the time off to speak of present and future plans both for the DSC and persons who were graduating including expansion of the facilities and extending services to other countries of the Caribbean.
“With this many achievements and investments, we are able to create, in Dominica, a school of nursing, a health science faculty of the Dominica State College which is able to provide training for nurses throughout the Caribbean. We will continue to expand this facility so as to ensure that by next year, we will be commencing our journey to awarding a bachelor of nursing degree at the Dominica State College.
Nurses reciting nurses' pledge
We will continue to make investments in the faculty of education as we move to the commencement of a four (4) year programme in education. This we will be able to achieve in collaboration with the University of the West Indies so as to ensure that all our teachers can have a first degree within the school system. This many achievements can only be achieved with increased investment in the physical structure and in the human resource capacity at the Dominica State College. To this end, we have already designed and approved the construction of a new Dominica State College which will be able to provide world class facilities for our Dominican people and will also serve as a school of excellence throughout the OECS and the Caribbean.”
Section of the graduating class
Funding for the construction of the new State College is expected to come from the People’s Republic of China. Meanwhile, Hon. Henderson had good news for the current set of students.
“Needless to say, that if you are a top student in your faculty with a GPA above three point five (3.5), rest assured, that you will be awarded a scholarship by the Government of Dominica.”
Delivering the feature address was Justice Irvin André, a Dominican working in Canada who has written and co-authored thirteen books including biographies of former Chief Minister, Franklin Baron, former Premier Edward Oliver Leblanc and surgeon Dr. Desmond McIntyre. Justice André has also written on the history of the Indigenous People of Dominica and other aspects of Dominican history.
In his address, Justice André challenged the graduants to see themselves as part of a legacy that is helping to forge an image of excellence for the Dominica State College both regionally and internationally.
“It seems to me that the Dominica State College is like a Cinderella which has worked triumphantly and with unmistaken fanfare in the world of academia. In six (6) years, you have grown from a few hundred students to two thousand (2000), the majority of whom have graduated.
Justice Irvin André
It is significant since you can take stock of the last two (2) or three (3) years and feel satisfied that you are ready to take up the challenge which you will face as young citizens. I hope that you are satisfied given that you are now graduates of an institution which, despite its relatively short history, has made significant strides in the local, regional and international community. Your success is therefore a mirror of the Dominica State College.”
Graduant receiving certificate
Above, sections of graduating class
The validictorian award went to Mr. Jeffery Burton. |
