New York, December 16, 2009 – Professionals in foreign languages, social services and other fields have offered to provide free assistance to help Grenada enhance its education system.
The offer was presented to Senator Franka Akexis-Bernardine during a community meeting December 14 in Brooklyn, New York.
Sen. Bernardine, Grenada’s Minister of Education and Human Resource Development, thanked the meeting’s participants for their pledge of assistance and for their advice and suggestion on moving education to a higher level.
“We need all hands on board to make this happen,’’ said Sen. Bernardine.
She said the help could begin with professionals visiting Grenada during the July and August celebration of carnival, giving lectures as part of a planned summer programme.
During the meeting, chaired by Consul General Derrick James and carried live on a radio programme hosted by Grenada-born broadcaster Gerry Hopkins, Minister Bernardine explained her current efforts to “refocus’’ the Grenada school curriculum.
She highlighted the need for refocusing and changing by pointing to the results of CXC pass rates in English and Mathematics in 2007. Of nine regional countries, Grenada had the lowest pass rates in both English and Math.
“I find it difficult to settle for last place,’’ the Minister said. “There is plenty to be done in education.’’
The “curriculum refocus’’ encompasses broad areas such as problem solving, critical thinking, citizenship education and other “personal development skills.’’
It also places greater emphasis on technical and skills’ training, and with academics to now pay attention to graduating students with stronger ability in areas such as the creative and performing arts, environmental studies, social studies and foreign languages.
“Technical skills must be valued as highly as any other,’’ Sen. Bernardine said. “Our people must recognize that avenues like sports and dance must be provided. Children who are inclined that way must be encouraged. Whatever the assortment of talent must find expression in our curriculum.’’
The very survival of the nation, said the Education Minister, depends on a new type of curriculum.
“We are getting left behind. We have to pull our nation up by its bootstrap,’’ she added.
Statistics show that about 80 percent of Grenada’s teachers do not have formal teacher training or a university degree. Minister Bernardine said the plans for education include providing access to tertiary training for educators.
“We must train the teachers, otherwise we’re spinning top in mud,’’ Sen. Bernardine argued.
Government, she said, is also giving priority to helping children with disability with the establishment of a “Special Education Desk.’’
The administration of Prime Minister Tillman Thomas has also dedicated itself to finding more university scholarships for Grenadian students, and rebuilding and renovating schools across the nation with assistance from the World Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank, Sen. Bernardine disclosed.
“Minister, you make me very proud,’’ New York-based Grenada educator Merle Clark told Sen. Bernardine as the meeting concluded.
Any hint at all about the direction the curriculum will take?
In 2005-6 period, the Ministry of Education (MoE) in New Zealand recognised that it was time for a new change in curriculum development and in teaching and learning practices.
The MoE then invited; from all sectors in education and interested parties to submit their thoughts, justifications and ideas as to what they believed would best take education another step into the future, for the benefit of all students.
Strong recommendations to use curriculum approaches that cross the curriculum disciplines as highly desirable, was the overwhelming outcome.
To view and download the online copy of that document, follow this link:
http://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/Curriculum-documents
Enjoy the day:)