The importance of education and training

Education on Tristan da Cunha is provided by St Mary’s School which caters for all children from 3-16 years of age. All staff are islanders and a broad curriculum is followed leading to the taking of a limited number of UK GCSE examinations. Pupils presently leave school to enter a Youth Training Scheme in various departments before taking up their first post on the island.

In the current financial climate it is impossible for the Tristan Government to fund adequate additional further education and training overseas and so opportunities for young people now are more limited than that for previous generations.

As the speed of change, especially in technology, increases, the need for high level skills becomes essential. Heads of department posts (except for the administrator, doctor and factory manager) are occupied by islanders, and it is important that future leaders are well educated and trained if Tristan’s economy is to provide essential income and use scarce resources wisely.