– Minister Manickchand visits students in Regions One and Seven

EDUCATION Minister, Priya Manickchand, visited Several Regions One and Seven villages last weekend as the Ministry of Education (MoE) began distribution of worksheets and other printed learning materials to the hinterland regions.

Villages visited in Region One included Baramita, Matthews Ridge, Port Kaituma, Mabaruma and Moruca, while villages visited in Region Seven included Imbaimadai, Kamarang, Paruima, Kaikan and Bartica.

The worksheets account for approximately one month’s worth of work while additional materials are currently being prepared to ensure students, both in the hinterland and coastland regions, are continuously engaged until schools reopen.
The worksheets cover work the students would have been doing had they been in the classroom and will be distributed to students at the nursery, primary and secondary school levels.

During the visit, the minister was accompanied by MoE Chief Planning Officer (CPO), Nicola Johnson and Ministry of Amerindian Affairs (MoAA) Parliamentary Secretary, Sarah Browne.

The minister met with parents, students and other community members and outlined for them the ministry’s plan to deliver education to ensure that there is minimal learning loss to students, notwithstanding the current school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Schools in Guyana have been closed since March and it was earlier this month that the ministry took the decision to begin re-engaging students using “a blended multifaceted approach” that incorporates teaching via various Internet platforms, the Learning Channel, radio etc. along with print materials that will be distributed to all students.

Aside from Region One and Seven, the printed materials will also be distributed to all the other regions as well.
The minister, according to an MoE press statement, explained to those gathered at the various villages that the current measures being implemented are necessary as learning has to be done differently since schools are not yet cleared for physical re-opening.
It was in this context, the education minister explained, that in addition to online teaching, the Learning Channel will be used for delivering daily lessons to students across all levels and grades.

The residents were also encouraged to tune into their community radio stations for the Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) programme and also the Broadcast to Schools programmes.

Minister Manickchand noted that given the peculiar situation confronting the nation, the blended learning approach was put in place to ensure that even communities that have challenges with Internet connectivity and non-access to the Guyana Learning Channel can be engaged.
The minister assured that all of the nation’s children will be meaningfully engaged irrespective of where they are located. Those gathered were also able to share their concerns and suggestions with Minister Manickchand, who assured them that these will be addressed.