Special Needs Education Training Centre coming

A preliminary report on the Government’s student loan programme from March to December 2005 showed that 133 applications were approved to the value of close to $10 million.

Prime Minister Dr.Ralph Gonsalves disclosed of that number 63 were economically disadvantaged students while 70 were from the regular programme.{{more}}

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said he has received a letter from St.Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador, Head of the Permanent Delegation to UNESCO, Wafic Said, pledging to match UNESCO’s US$100,000 contribution to the Literacy Crusade. The Prime Minister indicated that in the letter the Ambassador said he was delighted that Dr.Gonsalves had decided to go to Paris for the next UNESCO General Conference in 2007. On the local side, the Government in the 2006 Budget has allocated $1 million for the Literacy Crusade.

Secondly, during the week, a delegation headed by Datukvinod Sekhar, Chairman of Petro Foundation, Malaysia, visited the country to hold discussions with members of the government concerning matters which were raised prior to the last General Elections. Prime Minister Gonsalves said the team is here to discuss plans to construct a centre for Children with Special Needs with an annex that will train teachers in Special Needs Education. The team will also discuss the provision of 100 scholarships over the next five years for university courses at institutions both in the Caribbean and Malaysia.

The Prime Minister said he was also excited about the group’s interest in a tourism project.

Later this month Prime Minister Gonsalves will visit Malaysia.