SXMElections.com

SOUTH REWARD--Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports (ECYS) Silveria Jacobs recently came up with an idea to get the staff of the ministry involved in the Education on the Move (EOM) campaign as volunteers.

Recognising that schools are in dire need of a facelift and while awaiting their “critical upgrade,” the Minister decided to tackle some minor repairs and maintenance in a phased manner via EOM.

The St. Maarten Vocational Training School (SMVTS) and the Oranje School were identified as needing the upgrade first. The intention is for other schools to follow as the academic year progresses.

Jacobs urged the staff of the ministry to volunteer their time to assist with the beautification of SMVTS and Oranje School. The volunteer effort began on Wednesday, August 3. Many staffers and some Business Outreach Placement Programme (BOPP) students stationed at the Youth Department volunteered to clean up and paint the two schools under the EOM campaign.

“We must lead by example and that when asking for assistance from the outside, we must be able to show that we also greatly believe in volunteerism,” Jacobs said in a press release on Wednesday.

She encouraged volunteerism throughout the school year and urged parents and other interested persons to approach schools and after school programmes to make themselves available to assist in whatever way they can. “It truly takes a village and each of us can contribute in various ways to the education and development of our youth, needy and even the elderly.”

Jacobs thanked the volunteers who participated in the initiative.