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Mission Statement
The mission of Charterhouse High is to create a positive self-image for students in and out of school. To stimulate and guide the self-development of students through education. Charterhouse seeks to educate its young people academically and vocationally, through an holistic education.
Motto
Charterhouse High School was formally opened in 1994 by the then-Minister of Education, Hon. Louis George MP, in the presence of Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Sir John Compton and his wife, Lady Janice Compton, who is now the Patron of the School.
Since the foundation of Charterhouse, the support has been 100 percent from Mrs. Seraphin who continues to be the maternal figure for the school. She is a counsellor and certified book-keeper. More importantly, she supports the mission and goals of the school. It has been suggested that behind every successful man there is a woman, although 'Sister Seraphin', as she is fondly known by the students, believes that the success and mission of the school is achieved through joint effort.
St. Lucia continues to struggle with an overcrowded school system. Out of a total population of approximately 150,000, seventy percent are under the age of thirty years. In 1998, almost five thousand students took an exam which allowed them entrance into a secondary school.* That same year, however, the public secondary school system could only provide places for just over 2,250 students. As a result, more than half of the 11 to 13-year-olds were prevented from acquiring a secondary school education.* Since this has been the trend for at least the past ten years, every year a large number of young people do not receive a secondary education. It means that St. Lucia's labour force will have limited skills for years to come, leading to high unemployment and possibly jeopardising economic and social development.
Charterhouse High School was founded in recognition of the need for additional educational opportunities, especially in the rural areas of St. Lucia.
Unfortunately, a shortage of secondary schools is not the only problem. For students to do well enough on the examination to get into secondary school, they must have their physical, emotional, and psychological needs met. Children may find it difficult to concentrate on their school work when they are hungry or being abused by relatives at home. Clearly, a supportive and non-abusive environment for students to live and study is needed, and Charterhouse provides this.
Charterhouse has two main goals. The first is to continuously design practical approaches to learning. Secondly, Charterhouse provides teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19 a safe and disciplined environment in which to overcome any academic deficiencies and gain a secondary education, regardless of their academic, social or economic backgrounds. This enables them to compete in the world of work and/or continue their education at the tertiary level. In addition, Charterhouse provides personal, academic and guidance counselling to students. There is a professional Child Guidance Counsellor and psychologist on site.
*(Sources: St. Lucia National Youth Council, 1997; St. Lucia Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Examination Dept., 1998). |
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