With the vision of education transformation at the forefront, the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training (METVT) will soon introduce two new programmes, as a channel to guide the nation’s children towards improved literacy.
Minister Kay McConney disclosed this during last week’s press briefing, at the Elsie Payne Complex, Constitution Road, St. Michael
“These programmes will focus on teaching teachers how to teach reading in the classroom, so that they can be more effective in their instructions. There are a number of devices and resources that will be provided to the teachers to assist them. We, also, with the support of our Change Management Unit, will be seeking to put proper monitoring and evaluation mechanisms in place, so that we can truly see what we are getting for our investment in these programmes,” she explained.
One of the initiatives, the Linda Mood Bell Programme, will be piloted in six primary schools, three secondary schools, and three special education schools. Fifty educators, in the particular intervention, will also be trained.
The second pilot, designed to help improve literacy, is the Snappy Sounds Programme. It will be implemented within 40 primary schools and will see the training of approximately 200 educators, comprising principals, senior teachers, language arts coordinators, and early childhood coordinators.
Both programmes will be piloted this year, and based on the evidence gathered, the Education Ministry will determine the way forward. The identified target groups are Infants A, Infants B, special units, and the learning support classes at primary and secondary schools.
Minister McConney also referred to the National Task Force For Literacy, which was launched in January this year, to address the literacy challenge being faced globally and locally.
“We recognise that teachers, … as school leaders, have sometimes felt as if they were alone in some of their journeys, and so, the building of professional learning communities with selected team leaders will be a part of providing that additional support to our teachers and our school leaders and our educators,” she stressed.