News

The New Dominica State College currently under construction in Stock farm has been dubbed as a model Tertiary institution unparallel to any in the entire O.E.C.S region.

Prime Minister Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit made the observation following a Cabinet tour of the facility on Monday.

“This facility, I will say with the greatest level of humility, is unparalleled in the O.E.C.S as far as tertiary education is concerned.”

The new State College is being financed with loan funds from the Chinese Government and is expected to be ready for use by September this year.

Prime Minister Skerrit describes the project as one which will provide all the necessary facilities to ensure that Dominicans receive the highest quality of tertiary education.

“If we are talking about education: we have to make bold investments in education. We have to improve the physical facilities to provide better tuition and a better environment for our students. One can find at the new DSC at least eighteen large classrooms with each classroom able to seat comfortably at least one hundred students, there is also an ampitheatre with all the acoustic sounds and lighting which can seat three hundred plus people; a computer centre which will seat about one hundred students and  large offices for the president and the teachers. All these are major components of institutions of higher learning,” the Prime Minister remarked.

The Prime Minister revealed that the State College will be equipped with Wi-Fi internet access.

“On this site we will have complete Wi-Fi internet access. You will have one hundred percent access to internet at any given time so students who have their laptops, blackberries, iPhones can sit anywhere on campus  and access the internet to do their research and to study and this is an important thing because at present we have students waiting to use the computer lab.”

Hon. Skerrit describes the new Dominica State College as a major investment in the future of young people in Dominica.

“We believe that investment will be for a lifetime and many succeeding generations will benefit from this. At the end of the day students will have no complaints in terms of the amenities, they will now be provided with all the things that they need to study and do well and to make their family and country proud.”

Meantime Dominica’s Education Minister, Hon. Petter Saint Jean remarked that the State College project is in keeping with Government’s thrust at providing the support needed to guarantee that Dominican students excel.

“The State College really represents the quality of Education that this Government is delivering to the people of Dominica on all fronts from early childhood to primary, secondary and indeed further education. Having provided this kind of support, I think what we require now from our young people is a level of seriousness that is unparallel so that we here in Dominica can be competitive regionally and globally.”

Parliamentary Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office responsible for Information Technology, Honourable Kelvar Darroux is optimistic that Dominican students will take advantage of the opportunities which will be provided at the new State College.

“This structure is a testament of Government’s investment in young people. We have seen Government spending a tremendous amount of money to ensure that we advance education to another level. I am sure that young Dominicans will take advantage of this opportunity.”

The new State College Project when complete is expected to accommodate 2000 students.