Published 19 April 2026
Buckie Got It
St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Deputy Prime Minister Hanley Meets with SKNOC on Transformative National Physical
Education Initiative
Basseterre, St. Kitts, 16 April 2026 — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Hon.
Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, met on Wednesday with senior officials from the St. Kitts and Nevis
Olympic Committee (SKNOC) to discuss a major new initiative aimed at strengthening
physical education and values-based learning across the nation’s schools.
The SKNOC delegation was led by President Dennis Knight, accompanied by Technical
Director Lonzo Wilkinson and Brazil-based Sports Methodologist Léo Cursino. During the
meeting, the team outlined a comprehensive proposal for a National School Physical Education
Programme, developed with support from the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO).
The proposed programme would roll out in two phases from August 2026 to August 2031, and
includes:
• Certified training for teachers
• A licensed national Physical Education methodology
• A digital platform to support teaching and learning
• AI-powered pedagogical tools
• A nationally recognized undergraduate degree pathway for PE teachers
In addition to the PE initiative, the SKNOC also proposed the introduction of the Olympic
Values Education Programme (OVEP)—an International Olympic Committee initiative designed to promote the core values of Olympism through education. President Knight noted that
a customized OVEP syllabus could help embed values such as respect, excellence, and friendship into everyday school life, supporting character development and strengthening the nation’s sporting culture.Deputy Prime Minister Hanley described the proposals as timely and visionary, highlighting their alignment with several of the Government’s planned initiatives in education, youth development, and community empowerment. He expressed his enthusiasm for continued collaboration with the SKNOC to bring these programmes to life.
“These initiatives present a powerful opportunity to transform how we educate, inspire,
and support our young people,” Dr. Hanley said. “My Ministry looks forward to
collaborating closely with the Olympic Committee to make these proposals a reality for the benefit of our students and our nation.”
The Ministry of Education and the SKNOC will continue discussions in the coming months as they move toward formal planning and implementation.
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