GRENADA-EDUCATION: New School Gets The Thumbs Up

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Michael Bascombe

ST. GEORGE'S, Jan 3 1997 (IPS) - Twenty years after the first batch of students stepped off the aircraft carrying them from the United States to the St. George’s University School of medicine, the institution has reached a new level in its short history.

Back then, on Jan 17, 1977, the students were greeted with rum punch and steel band music as curious locals looked on. It was a significant moment for the tiny eastern Caribbean island.

Now, that institution has taken another step in another direction. In a recent move, the Grenada Parliament approved a charter giving the St. George’s University School of Medicine — which also had a recent name change and is now the St. George’s University — the authority to establish a school of Arts and Sciences.

It is a move welcomed by the population of the tiny island, population, 94,000 and known for its nutmeg trade. Many had actually given up hope of going on to a tertiary institution as they were unable to afford the tuition and other expenses associated with travelling to one of the three campuses at the regional University of the West Indies located in Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.

Of the 100 Grenadians on average who apply for entrance to these institutions each year, a significant percentage is unable to take up offers of admission if they are not awarded a scholarship from the government.

“This is indeed an opportunity that every Grenadian should be proud of. I will be able to study and work at home with no additional expense,” says 17 year old Laurie Stephens.

Stephens is now attending the T.A. Marryshow Community College (TAMCC) and is hoping to pursue a degree in computer science.

Randy Benjamin, a senior at TAMCC, has already registered for the degree in Business Administration. He expects that this area of study will be very popular as more people move into this field.

The initiative which culminated in the School of Arts and Sciences is a result of several key meetings between University administrators and government officials.

These meetings, according to University Chancellor, Keith Taylor, were aimed at increasing collaboration with the Caribbean academic world, fostering mutual recognition and reciprocity, and seeking a broad acknowledgment of the contributions of St. George’s University toward the educational development of the Caribbean region.

“I think this is opening up tremendous opportunities and I believe you will find a much larger group of Grenadian people from all ages and classes getting an opportunity for education that they never had before,” says Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell.

The new school will offer degrees in Hotel Management and Tourism, Marine Biology, Nursing, Business Administration, Accounting, Sociology and Psychology.

Some 2,000 physicians have received their training at the school since it was established.

“The impact of St. George’s presence on the economy, social welfare, health, and education in Grenada is immeasurable,” says Associate Dean, School of Arts and Sciences and former Parliamentarian, George McGuire.

Every year, the University contributes 225,000 dollars to the St. George’s hospital. It also provides salary support for its educational programmes at the hospital.

The University employs 175 Grenadians. That figure is expected to climb as new professionals are brought on staff for the School of Arts and Sciences.

For the past 10 years, the Grenada Heart Foundation, sponsored by the university with the support of community organisations, has sent 110 Grenadians to hospitals in the United States for open heart surgery at no cost to the families of the patients.

The university shot to prominence in 1983 when the United States government sent troops into Grenada to put down a palace coup.

The U.S. government gave as the reason for its action the need to protect the American students who were studying at the school.