Education/Finance Press Conference Comments
12 December 2007
To the Honourable Paula Cox , Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance,
To Dr. Andrew Brimmer, Principle Economic Advisor to the Ministry of Finance and former Governor of the United States Federal Reserve
To Mr. Donald Scott, Financial Secretary, Ministry of Finance
To Ms. Ellen-Kate Horton, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Recreation
To Dr. Lavita J. Alford, Vice President and Chief Academic Officer of the Bermuda College
To all present,
C. S. Lewis stated that "The task of the modern educator is not to cut down the jungles, but to irrigate the deserts."
At the Ministry of Education, Sports and Recreation, it is our firm belief that we must awaken a spirit of learning in all of our children from the moment they enter our public school system. Our ability to successful manage their thirst for knowledge will greatly depend on the relationships we forge between the Ministry, the parents, the teachers and other academic institutions that have the global academic well being of all students at heart and the creative solutions needed to produce first class, world class citizens.
We count it a priority that students who move through our primary, middle and senior school system must be given every opportunity to dream big and realize those dreams and aspirations through diligent study and firm, parental academic reinforcement.
I am very pleased today to stand here in the presence of those in the Ministry of Finance, the Bermuda College and the Ministry of Education, Sports and Recreation and announce the continuation of our commitment to our graduating students from senior school and those studying at the Bermuda College who have fixed their sites on studying overseas while taking advantage of the academic support we provide them here in Bermuda.
As we continue to develop students that are preparing to meet the demands of our changing corporate world by helping to match their career interests with the right institutions of higher learning, we, on an ongoing basis, enter into agreements with these institutions that, along with us, wish to see the hard work undertaken by our students, at Bermuda College, rewarded with their acceptance into these institution and the ability for them to continue their studies in some of the finest colleges and universities worldwide.
Just last week, I can make you aware that we entered into an agreement with Johnson and Wales University that will see our students receiving $5000 renewable scholarships for admission to the University along with an exchange of individual faculty members and the development of student collaborations.
As a continuation of this commitment to our students, we are also delighted to have been given an opportunity to develop a relationship with the prestigious Tuskegee University through the assistance of non other than Dr. Andrew Brimmer.
For those of you who do not know, Tuskegee University, known world wide as the "the pride of the swift, growing south" is an independent and state-related institution located in Macon County, Alabama, USA and its programs serve a student body that is coeducational as well as racially, ethnically and religiously diverse. Dr. Brimmer has graciously met with our College President, Dr. Duranda Greene and the two are working to develop an articulation agreement between Tuskegee University and the Bermuda College. This agreement will, in time, allow our students, who have successfully completed two years of academic studies, to transfer to Tuskegee University and undertake studies in Business and Information Technology. While it is easy to simply see this as another university that is within our students grasp, the cultural and academic experiences that our students will garnish from Tuskegee will go a long way to connecting them with a community within the United States that will enrich their lives and broaden their awareness. We cannot say enough how appreciative we are for the help of Dr. Brimmer.
I would be remiss of me if I do not, on this occasion of reporting on promises kept to the parents and students of Bermuda by this Government and Ministry, offer to Dr. Andrew Brimmer the appreciation and congratulations of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Recreation for his hard work and for the dedication he has given to the People of Bermuda and to the People and Government of the United States of America who have recently celebrated his contribution by announcing, through the generosity of the Tuskegee University, the building of the Andrew F. Brimmer College of Business and Information Science, a $15 million facility which broke ground in March. We are equally grateful for the work he has done in maintaining Bermuda's finances and move to honour that contribution in mentioning today.
Thank you.
