BUDGET PRIORITIES FOR 2007

Mr Speaker, having outlined our medium term economic framework and identified the sectors that will take us to economic sustainability, I will now like to turn to our main budget priorities for the new fiscal year.

These priorities are:

1 Continuing our focus on enhancing educational and training opportunities, improving our health services, and reducing the housing deficit;

2 Intensifying our all-out war on crime, lawlessness and deviant behaviour;

3 Modernising our physical infrastructure;

4 A new and focused emphasis on agricultural development as one mechanism for reducing food prices;

5 Providing further assistance to our senior citizens and increasing the range of support programmes for the vulnerable in our society;

6 Maintaining our efforts at poverty alleviation; and Mr Speaker of utmost importance

7 Strengthening family life,

Mr Speaker, I would like to emphasise that all our programmes—in education, health, housing, infrastructure, poverty alleviation; all our major initiatives have as their ultimate goal, the strengthening of the family, for you cannot improve the welfare of the country until you first strengthen the family.

Mr Speaker, permit me to expand on the main initiatives to be implemented in these areas in fiscal 2007.

MAJOR INITIATIVES

Education

Mr Speaker, improving the availability and quality of our education system are keys to the development of an innovative and efficient labour force and enhancing the material well-being of our citizens. Evidence world-wide also suggests that education and training also contribute to building confidence and self-esteem in youth and as such, can help address the current upsurge in youth crime and violence.

Mr Speaker, the Government's objective is to create a system of seamless education from early childhood through the tertiary level. Government policy is also aimed at creating a culture where our citizens see education as a lifelong pursuit; an opportunity to improve their employment status or simply to expand their horizons.

Currently 72 per cent of children in the 3-4 age cohort are enrolled in 998 Early Childhood Care and Education centres, of which 170 are Government and Servol managed. Our goal is to achieve Universal Early Childhood Care and Education by the year 2010.

This means ensuring that 600 new centres are fully operational to cater to the target population of approximately 30,000 children.

This year, there were unfortunate delays in getting the programme started and work commenced on only 16 Early Childhood Care and Education centres. In fiscal 2007, the programme should develop full steam and it is expected that 80 additional centers will be constructed, each accommodating 50 children.

Our focus at the primary and secondary levels is to achieve improvement in the relevance and the quality of our educational programmes so that they better serve our economic and social needs.

During 2006, the Government in collaboration with stakeholders continued work on the modernisation of the curriculum of our primary schools and of forms 1 to 5 in our secondary schools. Given that curriculum is a key element in quality education we plan to accelerate this process to quickly devise curricula that are relevant and suited to the dynamics of our rapidly evolving society. The Government is in the process of setting up a Quality Assurance Unit to ensure that all schools meet the highest standards of accountability, efficiency and performance.

Mr Speaker, today, at the secondary level, there is a 40 per cent completion rate among students taking the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, that is, students who are certified through the acquisition of 5 or more CXC subjects.

However, currently only an estimated 7.5 per cent of the enrollment in public secondary schools represents the Sixth Form or the Caribbean Advanced

Proficiency Examination group. This equates to approximately 8,025 students out of an overall enrollment of 107,000 students.

Mr Speaker we need to make sixth form education available to more of our children to make them more suited to a knowledge based economy and to better prepare them for university education.

The Government's aim is to increase the number of persons accessing sixth form education to 60 percent of the relevant age cohort. Achieving this target will involve the construction and upgrading of several secondary schools, as well as the purchase of additional sixth form places from private secondary schools.

In this context Mr Speaker, sites have already been identified for the construction of 2 Advanced Level colleges.

The Government will also purchase an additional 800 advanced level places from private secondary schools to add to the 500 places already purchased on an annual basis.

Mr Speaker, under the Secondary Education Modernisation Programme there is a magnet school programme, now piloted at 16 secondary schools. This programme allows students to pursue special concentration in areas such as Business; Visual and Performing Arts; Science; Information Technology; Physical Education; and Languages.

Such training will meet their particular talents and better equip them for the world of work and afford them technological empowerment which is critical in the fast paced, changing global economy.

Given the benefits to be derived through the magnet school programme, it is envisaged that more schools will introduce this programme. The additional specialised teaching resources and specialised equipment which would be required will be made available by the Government.

In keeping with the technological requirements of a knowledge based work force, the Government has embarked on an extensive programme to integrate Information and Communications Technology into the primary and secondary schools curricula. In this regard, computer labs will be established, on a phased basis in clusters of 60 schools.

Mr Speaker, the establishment of Homework Centres is another mechanism to help at risk students optimise their educational opportunities. Homework Centres are designed to assist students who do not have ideal conditions for study at home or who have difficulty coping with the work in the classroom. They are also geared to students at double shift schools who may otherwise use the spare time in non-productive ways.

Mr Speaker, six Home Work Centres are managed jointly by the Government and the Non Governmental Organisation - the Human Development Foundation—and are co-funded by the JB Fernandes Memorial Trust Fund.

Two other centres are run jointly by the Government and the National Parent Teacher Association. During 2005/2006, the Centres provided educational support to 140 students.

Mr Speaker, I am also happy to report that the Government has been receiving numerous requests from communities throughout the country for the establishment of Centres.

I therefore encourage the private sector to partner with the Government in the establishment of Homework Centres and also to adopt the Homework Centres model at their business places.

Mr Speaker, the Government is using an integrated multi-disciplinary team approach for the delivery of guidance counseling and social and special education services in schools. This programme is aimed at the early diagnosis of physical difficulties, mental challenges and sensory impairment in children which may result in learning challenges. Students with such challenges are referred to appropriate centres where they will receive the requisite treatment.

Additionally, auditory and visual screenings are available for all primary school students. Mr Speaker, these Student Support Services are operational in 58 primary schools, and 40 secondary schools.

Mr Speaker, I should note that the Government's very successful programmes to provide meals, books and transportation to the school population will continue and, in fact will be expanded.

For example, currently, close to 95,000 daily lunches and 40,000 daily breakfast meals are provided. In the next fiscal year the programme will be expanded and will also include daily lunches to Early Childhood Care and Education students. Mr Speaker, the government will continue to provide safe school transport for students through a contractual arrangement with the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) and via maxi taxis. During the academic year 2005/2006 the Government purchased over four million seats.

This service will be expanded in the next fiscal year to cater to students who are differently-abled so that equity can be sustained among the student population.

Mr Speaker, through the School Book Loan Programme the Government provides books to students at all levels, including main texts for each subject area. Students of Form Four enjoy the benefit of receiving 8 textbooks; one for each subject being pursued at examination level.

Resources are also provided to assist primary school students to improve literacy and numeracy skills and competencies where necessary.

Mr Speaker, as part of our goal to improve quality and standards in the education system, we are reforming teacher education by transferring the two Teachers' Colleges from the Ministry of Education to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education. These Colleges have been placed under the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT).

UTT will offer a 4-year Degree Programme as pre-service preparation (and as a prerequisite) for joining the teaching profession.

For teachers already in the system, the Government will develop professional development programmes which ensure that teachers continue to upgrade their skills to provide excellence in education.

Tertiary Education

Mr Speaker, regarding tertiary education, the establishment of the University of Trinidad and Tobago in 2004, has greatly expanded the opportunities for university education for our citizens and has filled a void in the provision of science and technology training at the tertiary level. During 2006, UTT expanded its capacity by incorporating into its academic programmes:

The John Donaldson Technical Institute;

The San Fernando Technical Institute;

The Valsayn Teachers' College;

The Corinth Teachers' College;

The National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (NIHERST); and

The Eastern Caribbean Institute of Agriculture and Forestry (ECIAF).

A proposal is currently being examined to integrate the Centeno Experiment Station (CES) into the UTT. The proposal recognises that the Centeno Experiment Station (CES) has a strong research capacity and its institutional emphasis is congruent with the UTT's mandate.

Following this, the integration of the Institute of Marine Affairs, the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute, and specific functions of the Metal Industries

Company Limited will be considered. With the UTT re-configured, the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts (Costaatt) will now focus on areas of core competencies in the fields of health sciences, modern studies, arts and culture and languages. In the future, one of

Costaatt's objectives will be to facilitate the transfer of its graduates to the University of Trinidad and Tobago and the University of the West Indies to complete bachelor degree programmes in areas not being offered at Costaatt.

Costaatt will become a comprehensive national community college -it is to be renamed the Community College of Trinidad and Tobago—and will have a four—fold mission:

Preparing students for employment at the paraprofessional, technologist and mid-managerial level in a variety of disciplines;

Providing remedial education courses for academically under—prepared students to create a bridge to post secondary programmes;

Preparing students for future enrollment in undergraduate programmes of study; and

Offering short-term programmes that meet the needs of the communities it serves.

Financing Higher Education

Mr Speaker, this year the Government introduced free tertiary education not only at UTT and all UWI campuses and at all accredited private institutions in Trinidad and Tobago. In addition, a number of scholarships have been awarded to students attending St Georges University, Grenada. Moreover to facilitate those with special financing needs, the Higher Education Loan Programme (Help) was launched in June of this year. Help replaces the Students' Revolving Loan Fund and the University Students' Guarantee Loan Fund. Loans under Help are for a maximum of $25,000 per year for three years for students studying in Trinidad and Tobago and $75,000 per year for 3 years for students pursuing studies within the Caricom region.

It is anticipated that the number of applications for this year would be approximately 2,500 and this figure is expected to increase significantly in the new fiscal year.

HEALTH AND THE PROMOTION OF HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

Mr Speaker, over the past few years we have made significant strides toward improving our health services, both in respect of our health infrastructure and the actual delivery of healthcare. Through a comprehensive Health Sector Reform Programme we have been systematically building a client-centred environment with a focus on primary health care. We have also launched a nationwide campaign to encourage people to take responsibility for their own health.

In this coming fiscal year, Mr Speaker, we will continue to expand primary health care facilities, mainly Health Centres, while decentralising service delivery and management. Primary health care facilities in San Juan, Barataria, Diego Martin, Carenage, Petit Valley, Morvant, Upper Laventille, Debe, La Romain, and St Madeline are scheduled for completion in 2008, and the construction of the Sangre Grande Enhanced Health Centre and the Toco Maternity Unit are scheduled to commence in 2007

The Government will also continue to expand and upgrade the country's hospitals.

The construction of the Point Fortin and Scarborough hospitals, as well as a new wing of the San Fernando General Hospital are projected to be completed in 2007. The construction of the National Health Laboratory will also commence in 2007.

Mr Speaker, an important element of our health care strategy is the Chronic Disease Assistance Programme, through which citizens are provided medical drugs free of charge to treat some common ailments.

In the operation of CDAP, the Government seeks to reduce the burden on hospital dispensaries and patient waiting time at public health institutions by providing additional dispensing facilities across the country.

In other words, the programme is actively bringing health care services closer to the population. Another aim of the programme is to reduce the cost of health care for all our citizens.

To date 230,000 citizens benefit from this programme and this number is expected to increase in the coming fiscal year. Mr. Speaker, a total of 240 pharmacies throughout the country participate in the Programme.

During the new fiscal year, all the participating private pharmacies will be computerised in order to ensure efficient management of claims, distribution and inventory control.

The Information System for the Programme, which will be completed shortly, will facilitate real-time management of inventory flows to pharmacies, monitoring of consumption, quick processing of claims and an overall improvement of this service to the public.

Mr Speaker, CDAP started off treating three common ailments and now has been expanded to 11 common ailments.

Mr Speaker, with a view to enhancing our health care delivery system, the Government will, this year, launch a Community Care Programme. Community Care refers to health and social support in non-institutional settings in the community. It is in fact a multi-partite initiative involving the Government, NGOs, CBOs and the private sector.

The aim of Community Care is to provide care and assistance to persons who require it in their own homes as far as possible or at least, within their communities.

Various models of care will be offered, including home care, day care, respite care, and community-based rehabilitation services. Centres will be constructed within communities to house and provide care for persons in need.

The Community Care programme will increase self-reliance, dignity and independence of vulnerable groups with the aid of the family and the community.

The first phase of the programme will be a pilot project that would provide community-based care options for the elderly and physically and/or mentally disabled children.

It is now widely accepted that it is easier and less costly to seek to prevent certain diseases than to treat them. For this reason, the Government has been putting heavy emphasis on the promotion of healthy lifestyles, through education, good nutrition, sports, moderation in alcohol use and refraining from smoking.

This year's budget has allocated significant resources to promote community and family participation in sports and recreation throughout the country. Also advice on good nutrition and health education will be provided through national and community channels.

The Government is committed to informing the population of the risks posed by tobacco and its impact on the health and well-being of the population.

Trinidad and Tobago ratified the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control in 2004 and the Government is currently drafting the relevant legislation to give effect to this treaty.

Steps to protect non-smokers in public offices have already been implemented through the "no smoking in State-owned buildings policy".

Mr Speaker, the Government proposes to enforce very stringently this ban and to develop a coordinated programme for national tobacco control.

Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases

Mr Speaker, the Government is also cognisant of the fact that environmental factors play an important role in determining national health outcomes. Taking steps to prevent and control the spread of communicable diseases is therefore high on our agenda.

With regard to the current strategies to address the disease, particularly expanding access to anti-retroviral and anti-fungal drugs for persons living with HIV/Aids, are proving successful. Laboratory testing, as well as a programme for voluntary counselling and testing for HIV will be further expanded.

The national HIV Awareness Campaign is being intensified. The objectives of the campaign include voluntary testing, counselling, the promotion of safe and healthy sexual behaviour among the general population; and steps to reduce the rate of mother to child transmission of HIV.

Family Planning Association

Mr Speaker, this year, the Government proposes that every community, particularly those in areas where the need is greatest will be provided with a wide range of quality health services, particularly in relation to sexual and reproductive health with special focus on adolescents.

Accordingly, the Government proposes to partner with the reputable Family Planning Association (FPA) of Trinidad and Tobago, specialist in the field of sexual and reproductive health for fifty years, to bring us closer to our goal of universal access to quality health services. The FPA has demonstrated the ability to meet the health needs of people within their various communities.

Mr Speaker, we have allocated $6 million this year to the Family Planning Association to facilitate increased access to sexual health and reproductive health services.

T&T Health Science Initiatives

Mr Speaker, Trinidad and Tobago is quickly assuming a leadership position within the region in the provision of medical services. In February 2006 we took steps to strengthen that capability to world class standards when the University of Trinidad and Tobago and Johns Hopkins Medicine International executed a six year collaboration and services agreement for the provision of advisory services in respect of health sciences for both the University of Trinidad and Tobago and the Government.

Mr Speaker, the initiatives relating to the Government would involve infrastructure development. As a priority, the Government will initiate the Port of Spain General Hospital Replacement Facility and this will become a medical campus which will include the provision of medical education and training and clinical research. There would also be a new Central Trinidad Hospital Facility with inpatient and outpatient capacity to cater to specific medical needs of our citizens in Central Trinidad. In addition, a management review of the San Fernando General Hospital and the Mount Hope Medical Complex is currently undertaken.