BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts, August 25, 2025 (SKNIS) – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, the Honourable Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, today, August 25, 2025, delivered a powerful address at a ceremony to mark the official opening of the 2025–2026 Academic Year. In his remarks, Dr. Hanley called on the nation’s educators to embrace three guiding principles for success: safe spaces, partnerships, and shared responsibility.
Dr. Hanley underscored that the foundation of a thriving school culture begins with creating safe environments—physically, emotionally, and psychologically—where students feel supported to take risks, ask questions, and discover who they are meant to be.
He reminded the principals, headteachers, teachers, and teaching assistants that true success is achieved when children become independent learners, thriving in classrooms where empathy, trust, and consistency pave the way for growth.
“We must commit to creating classrooms where every voice matters, where mistakes are stepping stones and not stumbling blocks, and where diversity is not just acknowledged but celebrated,” Dr. Hanley stated. “Let us be the kind of educators who make students feel like they belong, not just in our classrooms but in the world.”
Highlighting the importance of collaboration, Deputy Prime Minister Hanley urged teachers, administrators, and education leaders to strengthen partnerships across schools, families, and communities.
“Education is a team sport,” he said. “Our success depends on the strength of our partnerships within each other, with families, and most importantly, with our students.”
He emphasised the critical role of parents and guardians as co-creators in their children’s educational journey and encouraged educators to actively listen to students’ voices and involve them in shaping classroom culture. Citing the words of Benjamin Franklin White, Dr. Hanley reinforced that involvement is the key to meaningful learning.
The deputy prime minister also called for a collective commitment to shared responsibility, noting that the success of schools cannot rest on the shoulders of individuals alone.
“This work is too important and too complex to be carried by any one person,” he stressed. “We must embrace a mindset of shared responsibility. That means recognising that we are all accountable for the success of our school, not just in our own classrooms but across the entire community.”
As the Federation embarks on a new academic year, Deputy Prime Minister Hanley expressed confidence that with unity, empathy, and shared commitment, the education system in Saint Kitts and Nevis will continue to empower students and prepare them for meaningful futures.
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