SINT MAARTEN (SOUTH REWARD) – When the SVOBE organization decided in 2016 to add an English educational program to its comprehensive school package, the well-known CXC programs were a logical choice, Saskia Kliphuis, Innovation Coordinator SVOBE Schools said in a media statement on Wednesday.
“Furthermore, there was no school on St. Maarten that offered Technical CXC, whereas MPC was well-equipped with the necessary materials, tools and classrooms to be able to do so.
“The first group of students that started in the CXC stream in 2016-2017 is now in their final exam year. Nine of them opted for the Technical Studies package, which –next to general subjects- consists of Physics and the electives IT, Technical Drawing and Industrial Technology/Electrical and Electronic Technology.
“While working on their school-based assessments on voltage students Dashaun, Nankumar and Joan explain that their technical stream prepares them well for their aspirations after high school: namely of becoming an architect, electrical engineer or an IT engineer.
“They like the fact that their education is not only theory-oriented, but that it is also very much hands-on. Teacher Malcolm James agrees with them: the students have to create a business plan, draw a house plan with circuits, do the actual wiring and build a cellphone charger.
“Technical colleges require completion of either Physics or Electrical and Electronic Technology and the MPC students do both subjects. In May/June the three students can show if their technical knowledge meets the required standards when they sit their final Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examinations. Despite the obvious Covid challenges, the three male students are optimistic and full of hope.”
