~ECYS Minister calls on parents, teachers and the wider community to support children on the “ladder of Nation Building”~
PHILIPSBURG: --- Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Melissa Gumbs has welcomed students and educators back to the classroom with a call for every part of society to recognize its responsibility in preparing St. Maarten’s next generation.
In her back-to-school message, Gumbs described education as a “ladder of Nation Building” that must be supported by parents, teachers and the wider community as each child attempts to reach the top.
The minister began by recognizing parents as their children’s first teachers and the first line of support in their educational development.
“As your child’s first teacher, you are the first set of hands bracing the ladder to the wall,” Gumbs said.
She acknowledged that parenting is not an easy responsibility and encouraged parents to seek assistance when the demands become difficult. She pointed specifically to the Positive Parenting Support Program as one of the community resources available to help lighten that burden.
Addressing teachers, Gumbs described educators as the second set of hands supporting the nation-building ladder. She called on them to enter the new school year with open minds and a commitment to shaping St. Maarten’s future.
“Let us work to meet students where they are, so that we can help get them to where they need to be,” the minister said.
Gumbs also recognized the importance of teachers understanding the individual circumstances and needs of their students. She encouraged educators to approach each school day with patience, flexibility and, when necessary, snacks.
The minister said responsibility for children’s success cannot be placed solely on parents and teachers. She called on the wider community to serve as the final set of hands supporting the ladder.
Gumbs urged residents to continue demonstrating what she described as the spirit of “The Village,” which she said has become increasingly visible within the community over the past several months.
According to the minister, support and encouragement from across society contribute not only to successful education, but also to meaningful cultural expression, progressive youth development and structured growth within the sports sector.
Gumbs reserved her strongest message for students, urging them not to become discouraged or conclude that their academic or vocational pursuits have no value.
“It is easy to feel as though academic or vocational pursuits have ‘no point,’ particularly in your teenage years, but trust me when I say it all impacts how St. Maarten continues to develop,” she said.
The minister encouraged students to accept constructive criticism, advocate for themselves and their rights, and remain curious about St. Maarten and the wider world.
Gumbs also stressed that students attending public, private and subsidized schools share the same responsibility for helping determine the country’s future.
“You have a responsibility to be the type of future you want to see, not the one you’re told to be,” she told students.
She concluded by wishing all students and educators success during the new academic year, with special encouragement for Group 8 pupils and high-school examination classes as they enter important stages of their educational careers.