Education Minister Wycliffe Smith (centre) and members of his delegation in Parliament on Wednesday.
PHILIPSBURG--The Education Care Centre (ECC) programme never started as originally planned, due to the damage to the Charles Leopold Bell School from Hurricane Irma in September 2017, caretaker Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports (ECYS) Wycliffe Smith told Members of Parliament (MPs) on Wednesday.
Smith was at the time responding to questions on the centre posed by National Alliance (NA) MP Silveria Jacobs in an earlier session of the meeting.
Smith explained that an alternate location for the programme had been sought, but due to budgetary constraints a suitable and reasonable facility to rent had never been found. As no appropriate facility was found, the Department of Public Education (DPE) developed a Life Skills Programme in the interim. The St. Maarten Student Support Services (SSSD) “looks forward” to all the necessary facilities being in place so that the ECC programme can commence, Smith said.
The ECC programme was designed for pupils who present severe chronic behavioural challenges in the classroom at the elementary level. These school children could be repeatedly suspended, but do not have to be. The ECC also emphasized support to parents.
All ECC staff have been placed in other public schools: at the St. Maarten Vocational Training School (SMVTS), SSSD, Prins Willem Alexander School, Marie Genevieve de Weever School and at the Ruby Labega School. None of the ECC staff have been let go.
While the ECC programme did not begin, the number of pupils referred to the interim Life Skills Programme dropped from 14 in 2016-2017 to eight in 2017-2018 and to four students in 2018-2019. “School management reported significant improvement in classroom behaviour by the students. On the other hand, parents also testified to significant improvement in the behaviour of their children who were in the Life Skills Programme. Due to the decrease in numbers, the Life Skills Programme was discontinued,” Smith said.
In response to a question as to his views on the ECC not starting, Smith said: “My view as minister on this matter is that this is an unfortunate situation. However, we must acknowledge that the postponement of the Education Care Centre is a direct result of our inability to use the structure destined for the programme, which was damaged since the passing of the Hurricanes Irma and Maria. As mentioned earlier, the programme was modified and the ministry looks forward to implementing the full programme once all the prerequisites are in place to do so.”
He explained that SSSD has been engaged in behaviour modification from the onset and several initiatives have been executed in schools over the years. “Behaviour modification programmes require consistency and an understanding of the function of behaviours.
SSSD engaged in trainings in Functional Behaviour Assessments and Behaviour Intervention Plans. In 2014, SSSD found it necessary to hone the skills of teachers as it pertains to management of student behaviours.
By doing so the division believed that teachers would acquire skills that would enable them to effectively handle student behaviours as they are presented in the classroom prior to their becoming unmanageable. The programme took the form of an on-the-job training pilot programme at two public schools and would have been executed in other schools upon evaluation of its implementation.
In 2016, SSSD executed trainings in Conscious Discipline for select teachers and care staff in an effort to address behaviour at the classroom level. The trainees indicated that the training was useful and successful and the continuation of the programme was contingent on those trained executing Conscious Discipline in their schools. SSSD also executed a behaviour modification programme for boys, which was successful, but was eventually discontinued due to insufficient cooperation from schools. The programme for girls was postponed.
There have been many other initiatives besides the ones mentioned to address and improve behaviour in schools. Schools may refer students with behavioural concerns for individual support. Schools can also request a consultation with SSSD should they desire to have a whole class behaviour plan/approach.
SSSD is currently piloting school-wide positive behavioural intervention and supports (PBIS) in three schools. Behaviour modification is taking place at the individual level for the students referred but there are challenges as consistency is necessary in order to see the desired change.
There are also other factors that play a role in the behaviour expressed. The Education Care Centre was developed to provide care and support services to students with chronic behaviour issues in a separate environment. This programme also involved supporting/monitoring their return to their feeder school.
