Wycliffe Smith.
PHILIPSBURG--If the budget for 2019 is not approved, the entire education system and the care for culture, youth and sport can be compromised, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports (ECYS) Wycliffe Smith said on Wednesday.
Smith told reporters during the Council of Ministers press briefing that most of the budget of the Ministry is spent on subsidies, including subsidies for schools, sports, youth and cultural programmes. Subsidies within the various departments account for more than 60 per cent of the budget. “It is already clear that some school boards such as the School Board for Secondary Education SVOBE and Foundation for Academic and Vocational Education (FAVE) are having financial difficulties with the budget allotted to them from 2018. Parliament questioned this Ministry on what can be done regarding the troubles these school boards face. How can we offer additional assistance with no approved funds for 2019?” the minister asked.
“We are uncertain of a date when these budget debates will resume and a decision will have to be taken for the government to operate with the budget of 2018 for a second year. We already know that the 2018 budget will be insufficient, particularly for FAVE and SVOBE school boards.”
Several areas, he said, are in jeopardy including the maintenance of the schools so that students are safe, including public schools; the salaries of teachers and support staff; school nutrition; school bus operation; the insurance for students studying in St. Maarten and abroad; study financing and all conditions around it; innovations in education and the professional development for teachers and public employees.
Also at risk are key programmes in the fields of culture, youth and sport, the reorganisation of the Division Public Education, cooperation agreements for the delivery of examinations for the International Baccalaureate (IB), Caribbean Examinations Council CXC, Exam Bureau Curaçao ETE and Cambridge curricula; funding for legislation for subsidies such as higher education, and supervision of the Department of Inspection education.
“Despite these setbacks, I will continue to do my utmost best to ensure that the tasks and duties of this Ministry are carried out to secure the rights of the citizens of this civilised society,” Smith said.
The Ministry is waiting on the debate to resume to present an amount of NAf. 123,406,326 which is approximately 25% of the national budget. “With the further delay for the presentation of this budget, as Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, there are projects and programmes that this ministry has planned that we may not be able to move forward without an approved budget for this year. Every civilized society maintains laws and regulations, so that the government of the country may be guided in the right direction. I wish to consider St. Maarten as a civilized society where the citizens, as well as the government abides by the laws and regulations. Citizens and public authorities have rights as well as duties. The Constitution of St. Maarten indicates the rights and duties of the citizens and the government. According to article 11 of our constitution, each child has at least the right to education. This task is performed directly by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport. This Ministry is trying, with all the budgetary limitations, to ensure that education, culture, youth and sport are at least open to the primary, secondary, tertiary and other levels,” Smith maintained.
