SINT MAARTEN/ST. EUSTATIUS – On Monday, November 28, President of the University of St. Martin (USM) Dr. Francio Guadeloupe will deliver the keynote address at the 3rd educational conference of the BES islands.
The conference, which will be held on St. Eustatius coincides with the signing of the Education Agenda 2017-2020, aimed at improving the education offered at primary and secondary school levels on all three islands of the Dutch Caribbean.
When asked to comment on the invitation and his presentation, Dr. Guadeloupe stated, “It is a sign of slow, but steady confidence throughout the Kingdom that the USM has been asked to be part of this conference. The work we have been doing with regard to transition from Dutch to English as the language of instruction on St. Eustatius, no doubt played a role. In addition, the progress we have made on St. Maarten in delivering quality education and publishing in peer review academic journals. The education agenda is an important and visionary document, so my talk will be a reflection on that piece. I will seek to highlight its many promises and uncharted roads that if taken will benefit the people living on our sister islands. The Netherlands Antilles does not exist anymore, but our connection remains and USM is committed to contributing to the development of the intellectual capacities and self-realization of our cousins on Saba, St. Eustatius and Bonaire.”
The conference will be held in the Lion’s Den on St. Eustatius and will be attended by the Minister of Education, Culture, and Science, Jet Bussemaker and several other dignitaries from the Dutch Caribbean islands and the Netherlands.
