Garcia boasts of education gains

Speaking after delivering the feature address at the ministry’s, ‘Research in Education symposium and Knowledge Marketplace 2017’ held at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain, Garcia said he stands firm in the belief that the education system has been moving forward.

“Some examples, one __ is in the area of indiscipline. There has been a tremendous reduction in the incidents in our schools and that is not being said by me for political mileage, the figures are there to see.

“There has been a tremendous improvement in the quality of education that we provide to our children, there has been a tremendous improvement in the quality of work that is done by our teachers and in the performances of our students there has been a marked improvement.” He continued, “Again we have been able to ensure at the end of every school vacation programme when schools reopens, all our schools are able to open our doors, and that was something that was not seen for the last 25 years. Coupled with this, we have put in place a number of training programmes for teachers to be more empowered to deliver the curriculum.

“Therefore I am sure, I am confident we have made tremendous gains and you all are going to hear more about it as time goes on.” Responding to comments by former education minister Dr Tim Goopeesingh, who stated in a press release that Garcia and Minister in the Education Ministry Dr Lovell Francis had quashed a comprehensive package of measures that had led to the best ever SE A academic achievement in 2014, which was even bettered in 2015, Garcia said, “He has been disingenuous in some of the statistics that he has been producing.” “In spite of what the former education minister says, the ministry has been moving forward.

Those comments have been made repeatedly by the former minister and as I have been saying in the past, he seems to have a big problem in understanding he is no longer a minister.” He continued, “We at the Ministry are doing everything possible to ensure that our children receive a quality education which is their right.

And as I said before, we have made tremendous gains.”