EDUCATION Minister Priya Manickchand has disclosed that the delivery of Portuguese will commence from the start of the new school year in September in six secondary schools in education districts 3, 4 and Georgetown.

Currently, many schools are already offering Spanish and French as part of their foreign language programme.
Minister Manickchand noted that the curriculum is being prepared and delivery will start with students in Grades 7 and 8 (forms 1 and 2).
CXC subject
“We hope to have this as a CXC subject introduced in three to five years… we are working with CXC to set a syllabus, as well as determine how or what the exam is going to be,” she said.
Further, Guyana and Brazil are examining whether it may be best for the latter to send teachers to teach Portuguese here under conditions that allow for a successful programme. The conditions will not be unlike those already being implemented with other partners such as the Voluntary Services Organisations (VSOs).
Minister Manickchand explained that while there are teachers to teach Portuguese they are limited and the time-tables would have to be designed in such a way that allows them to move around to the schools where the language will be introduced.
She posited that if the engagement with Brazil is fruitful before September, then the language will be introduced in more schools.
With regard to the border programme which attracts students in Regions 8 and 9, Minister Manickchand noted that it will not be stopped, but is an addition to the new initiative which will be more formal in terms of the hope that Portuguese will be offered as a CXC subject, piloted and pioneered by Guyana. (GINA)