Development of students’ literacy is of major importance, says TTUTA

One of the biggest problems faced by teachers today is that of motivating students, and in today’s “Heroes,” we examine the radio programme and newspaper articles as influential teaching tools.

Without motivation, learning cannot be optimised. Heroes of the School System has proven to be an excellent help for teachers in this area as many persons tape the radio sessions, which are then developed into 5 to 30 minute presentations, exploring the principle of positive role modelling as a means of motivation. It is believed that students’ self-esteem was being further enhanced through the medium of the programme. Many teachers listen to the programme live and are similarly able to develop lessons along the same lines while helping to facilitate discussions which can help in the development of debating and other social skills.

One of the areas which needs urgent development in many of our students is the area of literacy because if students cannot read, they experience problems in accessing critical areas of the curriculum. The printed version of the programme is playing a very important role in this aspect of the curriculum, as it was discovered that many schools were having the Monday Newsday delivered to their respective institutions. According to President of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) Trevor Oliver, “The material, which is exciting and vividly, brings life to the hero, encourages the students to want to read. “In addition to enhancing the skills of the students, the article helps in the development of skills and competencies in essay and short story writings,” claimed Oliver.

Many lessons in comprehension have also been facilitated by these articles, Oliver stated, adding that “This is a very excellent example of the media being utilised as a facilitator of quality education, and is a positive step in media-related education.” In issuing a clarion call to teachers throughout the country to avail themselves of this excellent opportunity to develop quality lessons for their students, Oliver cautioned that the task of educating “our young charges” was enormous, and that “every opportunity must be grasped in pursuit of this noble gain.”

He stressed that the Heroes programme could be utilised in schools from infants to Form Six, as teachers will “of course know how to deal with the material at various levels”. He urged parents to also get in on the action, as they can use both the radio programme and newspaper articles to help in the education of their children. Oliver concluded that the production of this programme was yet another caring gesture by TTUTA towards the children of the nation, as they (TTUTA) “are an organisation not only prepared to talk, but act decisively in revolutionising the education in TT with the help of concerned stakeholders,” while urging all teachers to participate in this bold endeavour.