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??Shannah Daisley-Forde, Writer with Pelican Learning Inc., shows Ronald Jones, Minister of Education and Human Resource Development, a sample of the comprehension textbooks for children aged 5-7 years at a launch on Sunday at the Savannah Hotel (C.Pitt/BGIS). |
"Collate tests and develop class texts for students", this was the appeal made yesterday to teachers and principals, by Minister of Education and Human Resource Development, Ronald Jones, as he addressed the launch of Infant Comprehension books by Pelican Learning Inc., at the Savannah Hotel, Hastings, Christ Church.
Lauding the company for "beginning the journey for children to become familiar with the book as a cultural object", Minister Jones reminded those gathered that teachers were also writing but were in need of a forum for displaying this work. He said: "There are teachers who are writing novels but we don’t see them in one place. We need to bring them together in one environment where they can talk about their texts and have people read them."
While he noted that annually teachers produced "much excellent curriculum material", he queried, "Where are all of the tests, prepared this year, that the teachers have produced from this year’s 11-plus exam, for the last term and a-half? This is good material that should be collated from St. Paul’s, Sharon, Roland Edwards [to name a few] and brought together in a great compilation for a Maths or English text book."
The Education Minister, therefore, challenged teachers to "produce a nice class book for Class 2, 3 and 4" and stressed: "The opportunity is there, don’t let us throw away our material as we have done before!"
Pelican Learning Inc. was also praised for developing the comprehension workbooks, which will cater to children from ages five to seven. Mr. Jones noted that he was "thrilled that a Barbadian company had heeded his call for writers to prepare materials for our schools."
The company and its partner in the venture, the Barbados Public Workers’ Credit Union were told that, through their collaboration, they were providing "a solid educational foundation for infant students islandwide".?? Mr. Jones assured them that his Ministry fully endorsed the books and said, "Continue to develop these pearls of wisdom to tickle the fantasies of the young students of Barbados." (JG/BGIS)