Students from the hurricane ravaged island of Dominica who are seeking admission into schools in Trinidad and Tobago will not be denied the opportunity to continue their education.
This assurance comes from the Honourable Anthony Garcia, Minister of Education following news reports that a parent who relocated from Dominica and now resides in Central Trinidad is unable to get her three children admitted into schools.
Minister Garcia said “after Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley made a public appeal to citizens to open their doors and allow Dominicans to come and stay for a six-month period, all immigration restrictions were waived for those whose homes were destroyed by Hurricane Maria in September.”
The Ministry of Education immediately instructed School Supervisors and Principals to provide data on the number of spaces available in their schools and also to facilitate the admission of these students. Simultaneously, the Ministry also asked for information on the number of Dominican students who were citizens by descent and those who were non-nationals seeking admission into schools.
The data collected revealed that nine (9) students were citizens by descent and they were immediately offered places. Twenty-four (24) students were identified as non-nationals and that information was submitted to the Immigration Division.
Minister Garcia in discussions with the Minister of National Security, Major General (Ret'd) Edmund Dillon, was assured that all immigration restrictions have been waived to accommodate Dominican students.
Principals are therefore directed to facilitate the students from Dominica who were affected by Hurricane Maria in September 2017.
Minister Garcia reiterated his commitment to continue working in collaboration with the Ministry of National Security and the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs to ensure that all outstanding cases are addressed.
Parents are advised to visit the Ministry’s District Education Offices for further assistance.