Education Ministry extends ESL after-school classes for migrant learners

The Education Ministry Migrant Education Support Unit (MESU) has recently extended its English as a Second Language (ESL) summer classes for migrant learners.
The extension of these classes was highlighted by the Education Ministry in a recent press release, which stated that the English as a Second Language (ESL) after-school classes will be administered for an additional two weeks, ending on July 19.
This initiative is aimed at learners in Regions One (Barima Waini); Two (Pomeroon – Supenaam); Three (Essequibo Islands – West Demerara); Four (Demerara- Mahaica); Seven (Cuyuni – Mazaruni); Nine (Upper Takutu – Upper Essequibo), and Georgetown.
These engaging classes are designed to enhance English language skills through fun and interactive activities.
Coordinator of the MESU, Shanti Bisnauth, emphasised that the primary goal of the ESL program is to eliminate language barriers that hinder students and to foster inclusion for all learners enrolled in government schools.
The schools participating in the two-week ESL classes include: Region One: Yarakita Primary, White-Water Primary, Wauna Primary, Hosororo Primary, Mabaruma Primary, St. Peter and Paul Primary and Port Kaituma Primary; Region Two: Taymouth Manor Primary, Charity Primary and Fisher Primary. Region Three: Blake Primary, Parika Salem Primary, Parika Salem Secondary, Vergenoegen Secondary, Tuschen Primary, Victoria Lily Primary, Greenwich Park Primary, Philadelphia Primary, Met-en-Meer Zorg Primary, De Willem Secondary, Zeelugt Primary, Leonora Primary, Leonora Secondary, Windsor Forest Primary, Crane Primary, Vreed en Hoop Primary, Good Fortuin Primary, Parfait Harmony Primary, Two Brothers Primary, Patentia Primary, Belle West Primary, Kawall Primary, Cornelia Ida Primary, Saraswat Primary, Stewartville Primary, Endeavour and the Commons Secondary. Region Four: Kuru Kuru Primary, Kuru Kururu Primary, Supply Primary, Soesdyke Primary, Timehri Primary, Grove Primary, Diamond Primary, Covent Garden Primary, Eccles Primary, Mon Repos Primary, Lusignan Primary, Enterprise Primary, Helena Primary and Long Creek Primary and Georgetown JE Burnham Primary, Smith Memorial Primary, Rama Krishna Primary, Redeemer Primary, St. Angela’s Primary, St. Ambrose Primary, Fe Pollard Primary and Ketley Primary. Region Seven: St. Anthony Primary and Region Nine: Arapaima Primary and St. Ignatius Primary. Additionally, the Migrant Education Support Unit (MESU) will be launching its first ever “ESL Adventure Camp,” which will take place at ten venues from July 15th to 26th. The participating venues include Mabaruma, Taymouth Manor, Met-en- Meer Zorg, Belle West, Diamond, JE Burnham, Ketley, Smith Memorial, Supply, and Arapaima Primary. As a mitigating response to eliminate the language barriers, the Ministry of Education introduced ESL training for teachers. This training was done to equip teachers with the requisite skills to support migrant learners and to provide linguistic support to returning Guyanese, Venezuelan and indigenous children through English as a Second language (ESL) classes to aid their integration into the education system.