THE Ministry of Education conducted emergency mathematics awareness sessions in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), with the aim of engaging in major public interactions with parents, teachers and other stakeholders to ensure much improvements with specific emphasis on Mathematics in the school system.With just nine weeks left before the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) is written by approximately 10,000 students across the country, Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry,took the charge on Tuesday, by completing interactions in the Monkey Mountain, Paramakatoi and Kato settlements.
Along with Chief Education Officer (CEO), Marcel Hudson, Acting CEO (Primary), Owen Pollard and the Regional Education Officer (REDO), Rabindra Singh, the Minister ensured that persons were brought up to speed as regards to Government’s Emergency Mathematics Intervention to address poor performance at the NGSA.
According to a release from the Ministry, while the issues were many, the overarching message was to motivate parents and teachers to actively engage their children, moving forward with a view to improve their performance output.
Minister Henry told those gathered at one of interactive sessions that based on assessment of students’ performance over the past ten years,the time has come for them to turn things around.
“Schools in your region have been performing way below commendable grades and such cannot be allowed to continue,” she said. As such, the parents and teachers were encouraged to play a more active role in moving the region from the lowest performance level to more acceptable and commendable levels.
Explaining further, the Minister said “this nationwide intervention is to create a movement for improved results to make a positive difference in the society through Education.”
“It’s for us to have more qualified leaders, who comprehend that as future leaders it is integral for our human resource and nation’s development,” Minister Henry posited.
Persons were also promised that educational Broadcasts to schools, text books and so forth, will be brought to the region but the onus still remains on the community to get involve to help their children achieve better grades.
Amidst much motivation to the stakeholders,it was categorically noted that “every child needs the encouragement to dream and reach for higher ideals for better lives and possibilities, and the improvement through this intervention is the gateway to make those a reality. Together we can make this happen through united efforts for better results,” Chief Education Officer, Hudson implored.
A parent and a former teacher, Juanita Gomes offered commendation and said that such an initiative can only make for better, more improved performance at the Grade 6 level. She encouraged the Minister and team to make more frequent visits to the community.
“We pledge to do our part in a more committed form but would like to see you more often on the ground because we are now more encouraged by your presence and one on one interactions.
“We get to hear from and better understand the realities when we see you face to face and we will work with the intervention plan because a better educated nation equals a nation with a bright future.” As a parent, Marcia Frederick’s said she feels better as the visit has encouraged more Unity. “…we have a better appreciation for what is needed and how we can get involved to make our region performance. The engagement was much needed,” said the former teacher.
Meanwhile, Singh indicated that with 21 operable primary schools in Region Eight,there is a Grade 6 population of close to 300. And he admitted that the Region’s performance is very poor at the NGSA, noting that the intervention is a much needed one for the children, but more so for the Teachers.
Government recently approved $400M outside of the Ministry’s budget to address Education development. But it was made clear that beyond Government’s intervention the parents, teachers and children need to get on board, working hand-in-glove to see the needed improvement in NGSA results.
TEACHER TRAINING
And with development on the agenda, it was announced that Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) has a programme that will soon be implemented to train teachers at the regional level.
The Education Ministry is working to have a teacher education upgrading programme for further teacher education development through CPCE. Thus far more engagements were hosted in Georgetown, Region Two and Region Eight.
The intervention has three components which are immediate, short and long term with an objective to create a theory of change to improve the Grade six performances by interfacing with stakeholders: parents, teachers and regional officials. Its plan began in October, 2015 after Minister of Education Dr. Rupert Roopnarine engaged Cabinet, which resulted in the President’s statement of the need for the intervention as a priority.
This is in addition to a cadet scheme at the Education Ministry’s level, which is part of the Education Ministry’s efforts to improve the students’ performance.
