The back-to-back Education and Sports conferences that were originally scheduled to be held on August 12 and 13 respectively, will now be held on September 2 and 3, according a press release issued by the Cabinet of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs.
"The official visit of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, Dr. Rhoda Arrindell to Holland, where she will be accompanying St. Martin’s study financing students, and other logistic issues have made it necessary to find new dates for the two conferences," the release stated.
"The two conferences are being convened to discuss with stakeholders, issues relating to education and sports development on the island and to establish clear directions and policy initiatives that would impact on the two important sectors," Dr. Arrindell explained.
"The idea was to hold the conferences just before the start of the school year, however, the new dates seem to be the most convenient when everything else is taken into account," the Minister added.
"I am really looking forward to these conferences which will set the tone for the new school year and put us on the path of a common and shared goal to achieve the very best we can for our children," Dr. Arrindell said.
The Minister leaves this Sunday with a batch of some 66 study financing students in what has become a traditional trip to ensure that the students settle in properly. She will take advantage of this her first official visit to the Netherlands to meet with education authorities there to discuss matters of mutual interest.
"The Minister has a packed agenda that includes important talks with the Dutch Director General of Higher Education, Mr. Renk Roborgh, the mayor of Groningen, and Tanja Jadnanansing, member of the PvdA in the Dutch Second Chamber. She will, of course, also hold discussions with S4 and pay a courtesy call on the Minister Plenipotentiary of St. Martin in The Netherlands, Mr. Mathias Voges."