Secondary school students in San Fernando benefited from a lecture series on Tuesday, hosted by Minister of Education and San Fernando West Member of Parliament, Dr Michael Dowlath.
The event’s objective was to honour the past and empower the present while building the future.
Speaking at the official launch of the San Fernando West Constituency Secondary School Lecture Series, Minister Dowlath encouraged students to immerse themselves in their history.
“As the Minister of Education, I believe that education is not simply about passing examinations. It is about understanding where we came from, who we are, and what kind of country we have the power to become. Our history is not something locked away in a textbook.”
The initiative saw impactful presentations by history lecturer Dr Radica Mahase and Executive Trustee of the OWTU, Oswald Warrick, who revisited the triumphant stories that emerged following African Emancipation, the arrival of East Indian immigrants, and the impact of the labour movement in our country’s history.
“They put their lives on the line for us. They knew they were confronting an empire, an empire with guns and tanks, but it did not matter. All they felt and knew was that their children, their grandchildren, their great-grandchildren could not continue living like this.”
Students shared some of the key takeaways from the series:
“We in Trinidad and Tobago have a lot of rich history, and our ancestors, both Indian and African, have fought a lot for us and our freedom.”
“I would like to praise Dr Dowlath’s initiative of having this programme and instilling it in schools these days because being a part of the youth of Trinidad and Tobago, we tend to forget where we came from, and we forget the history and the culture of our country, and by doing these programmes, we spread awareness, we build awareness and it helps us, the youth, understand where we came from.”