Institutions across Guyana will be introduced to a new curriculum which caters for all students, as consultations begin for the reformation of the current school syllabus.
One of the consultants, Paula Mackinnon
The discussions are currently ongoing with nine Canadian consultants from the Saint Francis Xavier University and the Mindbloom School, who have been collecting information from educators and schools from various regions across Guyana.
Another consultation was hosted on Tuesday at the National Centre for Education Research Development NCERD, featured three consultants – Paula Mackinnon, Joanne Thompkins and Jeffery Orr – and administrators from various specials schools where the concerns that surround the education of these children were raised.
Several teachers related that the standard school curriculum was used to teach children with disabilities while others informed that the current curriculum is too packed to reach the needs of every student. Additionally, it was noted that Guyana depends heavily on the assistance of outsiders, which is not as effective as an internal guide. To modify this, the curriculum will be modified to suit the needs of Guyana’s children.
One of the consultants, Paula Mackinnon, gave an insight on the expertise of the consultants that were directed to enhance Guyana’s current syllabus.
“We bring with us, expertise in curriculum development and curriculum reengineering and reform. And then some specific expertise in inclusive pedagogy [and] in subject areas to help explore views of how the curriculum might be enhanced in that regard,” Mackinnon informed.
“This is a curriculum for Guyana. We can provide assistance for the development but it is yours and we hope that it provides every student with the opportunity to reach their full potential,” she added.
Director of National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD), Jennifer Cumberbatch in her remarks noted, “Special education needs is a special part of our curriculum as we look at it in the very near future. We are ensuring that everyone is included. We want no one left behind and we want no one left out.”
Several consultations were held over the past months with public and private institutions so as to provide equal opportunities for all students. After the information has been gathered, the team will be returning to Guyana in July to make further progress.
