Education Ministry has big plans for 2006

In a six-page statement highlighting its achievements, the ministry said it facilitated training in several areas for teachers, provided furniture and equipment to schools, built three new primary schools and partially funded the salaries of teachers at private special schools.

The ministry is this year promising to build more schools, and provide more meals. In relation to the pre-schools, or early childhood centres, the ministry said the prototype and design for the centres have been completed. Tendering for 40 centres will be invited shortly and construction on ten should begin this month.

Already the standards for regulating the centres have been laid in Parliament and 1,500 public and private teachers at existing centres have received training.

The ministry added that furniture and equipment for audio-visual, art and craft were provided to seven primary schools last year, while refurbishing and extension works were completed at 200 primary schools.

In terms of securing the nation’s primary schools, the ministry said 115 guard booths were constructed, physical works were carried out at 31 assisted schools, and work is continuing at several other schools.

Three primary schools at El Socorro, Lengua and Oropouche were built last year.

As for secondary schools, the ministry said master plans have been completed for 42 secondary schools, and final designs have been completed for 15 junior secondary schools, as the ministry moves to de-shift, convert, upgrade and rehabilitate.

It promises that awards for contracts to begin construction will be made shortly.

During 2005, the ministry said it constructed pre-engineered classrooms at 12 secondary schools, while improvement works were done at 55 secondary and assisted schools.

In terms of training, the ministry said 30 curriculum officers attended sessions on curriculum development; 120 teachers completed a diploma in technology education; 40 principals and senior teachers graduated with certificates in school management, 30 vice principals and senior teachers completed their masters in educational administration and 30 special teachers were trained in dyslexia.

Last year was also the year of the establishment of the Quality Assurance Unit, the piloting of the national tests in all primary schools and the inauguration of 22 more local school boards.

The ministry also boasted of having referred 1,300 students for learning and behavioural problems, and of having 13 secondary schools participate in the "out of school" suspension programme.

The ministry said "out of school" suspension centres were established at Malick Youth Facility and at the St Paul Multi-Purpose Facility. Six homework centres were also established.

The ministry said 72 primary schools began tuition in the introduction of Spanish last year, 1,809 new positions of heads of departments and deans were established at 134 secondary schools and 2,500 participants obtained NEC certificates in adult education.

The ministry said in 2005 it placed emphasis on "quality in the delivery and on building a system that is modern, relevant and responsive to the changing demands," of the environment.