SCHOOLS have already closed for the August vacation but the Ministry of Education is continuing to strengthen the literacy and numeracy skills of schoolchildren countrywide through its Fast Track Initiative (FTI).
The classes started Monday to continue the mass programme that has made significant progress since its 2008 inception, through a project being executed by the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) at a current cost of some $200M.
A literacy unit was established to oversee delivery of the FTI and other literacy/numeracy initiatives.
The FTI aims to promote literacy among students who are left behind at various levels of primary and secondary schools, out of school youths pursuing technical and vocational training and functionally illiterate adults.
At least 300 educators have been trained to do the teaching in the different regions and, because they are not qualified teachers, manuals afford them a fair guide to presenting the materials.
A class of 15 is appropriated to each educator, whose task is to improve the literacy skills of every student whilst engaging them in a different atmosphere than that of a regular classroom, to make learning more enjoyable.
One class, at F.E Pollard Primary School, in David Street, Kitty, also in Georgetown, is being conducted by Mrs. Lois Bryan for four weeks and she said the response, so far, has been encouraging.
“We have about 38 children between ages eight and 12 years old,” she informed, acknowledging that after school sessions are harder on the children as they would have had a tiring day and have to do more.
Bryan, who is assisted by Mrs. Anita Persaud, said pre-tests were done to assess the level of the children’s literacy and numeracy.
“After the current sessions, there will be a post test to see how far the children have come,” she explained.
Bryan said close collaboration has been maintained with school teachers who know the pupils’ ability best.
Director of NCERD, Mr. Mohandatt Goolsarran, said the initial feedback from stakeholders is positive.
“The children are responding. The teachers are eager and welcome the initiative and parents are calling in to get more involved,” he said.
Head of the Education Ministry’s Literacy Unit, Ms. Norma Applewhaite, said the FTI allows a more focused approach to improving the literacy and numeracy skills of the children.
She said they are targeting children from grades two to four and the holiday sessions also serve to enhance their sense of achievement and self-worth.
Applewhaite explained that, on their return to school, they will not see the work as daunting, rather they would be able to use their enhanced ability.
“Most importantly, the sessions are interactive and the children can have fun while learning,” she said.