Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, educators, students, and fellow citizens:
Today, the selection of high-quality educational institutions in this country officially expands by one. This afternoon, we gather to inaugurate King’s College School, The Bahamas, an institution that marks a significant step forward in a shared commitment to quality education.
King’s College School, The Bahamas, as part of the global Inspired network, brings with it a rich history of academic excellence spanning over five decades. It is this legacy that underpins our confidence in its potential to shape the future of education in our country. What sets this school apart is its commitment to the development of well-rounded individuals.
As you know, my administration, although working with a broader population of students, shares a similar philosophy when it comes to the holistic development of our children and youth.
The challenges may be different, but the goals are the same: we want children from every school, every neighbourhood, and every island to be equipped with the knowledge, tools, and skills they need to thrive – not just at the tertiary level or in the workforce, but as well-balanced, happy, and fulfilled people and citizens.
King’s College School mirrors these values in its core philosophy, which revolves around three pillars: Academics, Sports, and Performing & Creative Arts. These pillars, underpinned by the Cambridge International Curriculum and the International Baccalaureate, promise an education that goes beyond textbooks. They foster an environment that encourages creativity, critical thinking, and curiosity – attributes that our government holds dear in its vision for Bahamian education.
A good education is, at its heart, a promise:
A promise that our children will be equipped with the academic and life skills they will need to navigate life; a promise that they will be exposed to ideas that will enable them to stretch and grow holistically; and a promise that our children will emerge as open-minded, dynamic individuals, equipped to succeed not just in The Bahamas, but anywhere in the world.
King’s College certainly offers that promise to its students. It is a promise that all academic institutions should embrace, and one that we hope every child in our nation will someday have access to.
The government welcomes King’s College School as a partner in our shared mission to provide the best possible education for our children. This partnership is a testament to a mutual vision for expanding the reach of quality education in this nation.
To Mr. Rossetti, the faculty, and every individual who has played a role in bringing this vision to life, congratulations on taking this critical step toward realizing this vision. I look forward to observing the contributions this institution will make to the Bahamian educational landscape, as we all work together to mold the leaders, thinkers, and innovators of tomorrow.
Thank you.