Teachers trained to strengthen delivery of literacy curriculum

Oct 15, 2011 News

A two-day workshop ended yesterday at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), with a group of literacy educators drawn from throughout the country being trained to use proven best practices to help teachers to effectively deliver the literacy curriculum at the early grades of the primary level.
The workshop was aimed at equipping the participants with the knowledge, attitude, and skills to identify and correct areas of weaknesses in the teaching of this subject.
It was organised by the National Literacy Unit and was sponsored by UNESCO.

Some of the teachers in attendance at the workshop

Deputy Chief Education Officer (Development), Bibi Ali, said that the initiative is part of a bigger project that was sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNSECO), to evaluate the status of literacy and numeracy at Grades One, Two and Three.
“This was necessary because the Ministry of Education wanted to use the information to improve the literacy and numeracy programmes as well as for remedial purposes.” Ali explained. “Over the past four to five years, the Ministry had introduced various initiatives in literacy and numeracy at those levels and we needed to find out the impact of these initiatives, but most importantly, we needed to identify where the gaps were in student achievement.”
From 2010 to 2011, the Ministry prepared literacy and numeracy instruments based on standards for these grades, trained test administrators, administered the instruments, collected the data and analysed the results.
“I am pleased to say that we have the information on student achievement and we have noticed some positive results. However, we also have identified some areas that needed attention and we are doing something about it-this is what this workshop is about,” she disclosed.
UNESCO Secretary General (Guyana), Inge Nathoo, said that the organisation is committed to supporting the education system in Guyana and has demonstrated its commitment through various initiatives. Among the lot, she noted include the literacy and numeracy assessments conducted at Grades One, Two and Three.
Through this project, the Ministry was able to identify the achievement levels of students and gaps in learning.
“Now that we know where we are in literacy and numeracy in the early levels at the primary grades, it becomes necessary to take the next step-to ensure that the goals as identified by the project become realised and disseminated into schools,” Nathoo stressed.
She urged the trainers to put their shoulders to the wheel and make a real difference in the literacy standards of their respective regions.
Newly appointed Assistant Chief Education Officer (Primary), Marcel Hutson, who also spoke at the opening of the workshop, encouraged the participants to be the catalyst of change.
Pupils, he said must be able to leave the primary cycle able to read, write, comprehend and perform basic calculations.
The literacy educators were drawn from Regions, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven and Ten and Georgetown.