History and Geography remain on CXC subject list

Education Minister Hazel Manning yesterday dispelled rumours that History and Geography will be dropped from the CXC subject list for secondary schools, and instead advised schools to continue “doing whatever they have been doing before.” Manning was speaking to reporters at the launching of the Public Consultations on Draft Standards for Regulation and Early Childhood Services in TT, at the Cascadia Hotel yesterday. Stating that these subjects were “core subjects,” Manning gave her assurance that they “were not going to be dropped, but that as a matter of fact, we are going to put history in visual arts, in social studies and other subjects so that it will be expanded.” “We can’t drop History; that is where we come from,” claimed Manning.

However, the Minister urged persons not to spread rumours, but to wait until the ministry had published correspondence pertaining to this matter. She remains hopeful that Cabinet will approve a list by the end of the week. Questioned as to controversial Biology textbook containing an explicit picture detailing sex education, Manning said “We have asked the publisher to change that one page.” Adding her voice to those acclaiming the book a “good book,” Manning acknowledged that the book was being used in various countries throughout the world.
When asked why if this was so, why  TT was kicking up such a fuss about the diagram, especially as our youth are engaging in increased sexual activity? Manning’s reply was “You tell me...we have such a high HIV/AIDS statistics, I mean it is so bad that we are second to the Sub-Saharan region. “We are going to take the diagram out, and maybe in the next two years we could bring it back again,” she added. “I really just have to go with what is happening and we are going to make the adjustments.” On the topic of whether persons could look forward to book grants for the new academic year, Manning said this was currently before Cabinet. She assured the media that a lot of things were happening for September 2003, and that a press conference would be held to update the media as to the status of various projects later on, which includes a revised curriculum and a new centre for teacher training.