Education Minister reiterates call for students to be well rounded

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine on Friday reiterated the need forstudents to be well rounded individuals upon their completion of school life.

Dr Roopnaraine said it has been proven that extra circular activities should compliment academic pursuits.
The call was again made at the National Cultural Centre as students who excelled academically in 2016 were awarded.
The Minister noted that there is no disconnect between the “playing field and the classroom”.

“The playing field can reinforce the classroom and I think we need to recognise sports and I also urge that we restore music in the schools. Children need to participate in these in addition to their academics works”
The Minister said he wished to reinforce his position that students should not be one dimensional upon completion of their school life.
“I take this opportunity to restate my position that the system should offer our students a well-rounded education. This comes at a time when we have embarked in the Ministry on a curricular review process that provides an opportunity for this particular issue to be addressed”.
Roopnaraine noted his great dissatisfaction that awards were not being handed out to students for non-academic performances.
“May I reiterate my observation that these awards are all about academia and I am disappointed that in addition to the academic awards, that there is no award being handed out for non-academic performances”.
He further noted that he is indeed proud of the achievements of the awardees.
“I bask in your achievements but bemoan the limitations of what we have offered you. Further, I recognise the strain that the system is subjected to when it seeks to provide tuition for as many as 60 subjects, the result is less time for extracurricular activities, less time for core subjects and greater need for extra lessons to supplement the work done in schools that some cannot afford and in some situations, these lessons commence at five in the morning and end as late at 10 in the evenings, what manner of person emerges from such exposure?”
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo endorsed the call made by the Education Minister, noting that students need to be well rounded.