Education

Minister Cummins Tours Inaugural Energy Camp

Energy matters took centre stage last week when approximately 75 children were exposed to the inaugural one-week Energy Science Camp.

The Division of Energy in the Ministry of Energy and Business, in partnership with the Ministry of Innovation, Industry, Science and Technology (MIST) the interactive camp for children six to 11 years old. The camp was integrated into the annual MIST Science Camp as a new element for the campers.

Minister of Energy and Business, Senator Lisa Cummins, visited the camp, at The St. Michael School, and underscored the importance of the initiative. She called on corporate Barbados involved in that sector, to support a bigger camp next year.

“We want…to scale up this camp and make it something that is even bigger in the years to come. So, we’re welcoming the support of corporate Barbados and those, particularly who are invested in the energy space, and I am inviting them to come on board so that we can continue to build this…,” Senator Cummins stated.

In giving the rationale for the camp, the Minister said it was necessary to ensure that the children were a part of Barbados’ energy future.

“We’re using a national energy plan…from 2019, and in many ways that needs to be updated now. It needs to now take us into the next phase of our energy transition, and to solve some of the problems that we have encountered as we have implemented that plan. So that’s what we’re navigating now.

So, for that reason, we…wanted to make sure that the young people can see, feel and touch what the energy future for them can look like, and so the camp really was birthed out of that process,” she explained.

During the camp, the children learnt about wind energy, wind turbines, solar energy, energy conservation and energy efficiency, among other areas. They also engaged in various challenges, toured the Barbados National Oil Company Limited, and saw solar and wind farms as they travelled across the island.

Senator Cummins noted that the campers were exposed to various career opportunities available in the energy sector, to allow them to become familiar with potential careers.

“I think that exposing young people to what their options are, by getting them immersed in what is happening in these sectors, is critical for young people…. Energy and energy transition is about bringing people, and in this case young people, along for the journey, and we’re very happy to have been able to do that,” she stated.

The Ministry’s team was assisted by facilitators from Robot Adventures and Relay Education, with sponsorship from Blue Circle Energy; the Barbados National Oil Company Limited; the National Petroleum Corporation; and the Transport Board.

On Monday, August 19, the Ministry of Energy and Business will replicate the week-long Energy Science Camp at the National Summer Camp, at the Hilda Skeene Primary School, Ruby, St. Philip. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Minister of Energy and Business, Senator Lisa Cummins, speaking to camper Max Gill as he designs a solar car

Education

Immigration Webinar For Students Wishing To Study In Canada

Barbadians interested in pursuing studies in Canada are invited to participate in the online Immigration Seminar of the Consulate General of Barbados, in Toronto.

The Consulate, as part of its annual activities to observe National Heroes Day, is hosting a week of activities, and the key event will be the Immigration Seminar tomorrow Thursday, April 24, at 6:00 p.m.

Over the past 12 months, there have been significant changes to the requirements and processes for obtaining an international student visa. As a result, the seminar will focus on the recent changes to the entry requirements for international students coming to Canada to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate studies.

Prospective students, as well as parents, guardians, guidance counsellors, school teachers and principals, who have a vested interest in obtaining the most up-to-date and accurate information to make the most informed choice from the available study options, are encouraged to participate in the online seminar.

Alana Alleyne, a barrister and solicitor, will cover areas such as the latest changes to international student visas, eligibility criteria for student visas, requirements for postgraduate work permits, and changes to eligibility for spousal work permits. (PR/GIS)

Education

Information Session For Teachers Keen On Working In USA

Primary school teachers interested in working in the United States of America (USA) are invited to an upcoming Information Session, tomorrow Thursday, April 24.

The session will be hosted in the Main Conference Room of the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector, Warrens Office Complex, Warrens, St. Michael, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The initiative is being facilitated by the Ministry, in partnership with the Barbados Employment and Career Counselling Service, the Barbados Union of Teachers, and Participate Learning, a USA recruitment firm.

During the event, Participate Learning will share important information on the application and recruitment processes, as well as on working in the USA. (PR/GIS)

Education

Ellerslie Students Welcomed At Barbados’ Embassy In Panama

The Embassy of Barbados in the Republic of Panama was pleased to welcome The Ellerslie School students and staff to its Chancery in Panama City, recently.

Chargé d’Affaires, Sandra Gittens, in her welcome to the group, which included Principal, Andrea Baptiste and Deputy Principal, Carl Applewhaite, shared the history of the mission, noting that the Embassy was established in 2020.

Mrs. Gittens said this was “in line with the Barbados Government’s desire to strengthen its relations and cooperation with Panama across a number of areas, including trade, investment, tourism and education”.

She expressed the hope that the visit would signal the start of a new relationship with The Ellerslie School in pursuit of future student-to-student and teacher-to-teacher exchanges, in collaboration with the Ministries of Educational Transformation and Training and Tertiary Education and its Panamanian counterpart, within the framework of the memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries.

Speaking on the value of learning a foreign language, First Secretary, Shireifa Joseph, spoke of her experience as a foreign language student and the positive impact that it has had on her career.

She encouraged the students to continue their foreign language journey, signalling that they were well on their way to becoming “bridge builders” in their future careers with the capacity to connect Barbados to other countries across the globe.

Counsellor at the Embassy, Michelle Carter, also noted the value of language learning, especially for those studying tourism, stating that developing a strong proficiency in a foreign language will serve as a critical tool in opening doors to their success in this sector, whether in Barbados or abroad. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Students, teachers and parents of the Ellerslie secondary school to the Embassy of Barbados in the Republic of Panama