Literacy and Robotics Programme launched in Region 3 schools

Three more primary schools in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) will now benefit from the Ministry of Education’s Literacy and Robotics Programme.
Kawall Primary, La Retraite Primary and Blankenburg Primary are the newest institutions to benefit from the Literacy and Robotics Programme, which is being facilitated through the National Literacy Department and the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD).
This is in keeping with the Education Ministry’s mandate to ensure that every child is a fluent reader by Grade Four, while advancing the use of technology.
Giving an overview of the programme, Assistant Chief Education Officer (Literacy) Samantha Williams stated that the programme has a three-tiered approach, and provides an intensive, fast-paced, remedial intervention to fast-track learners’ literacy skills. It will begin at the basic level, move on to the intermediate level, and culminate at the advanced level. Assessments will also be done to track the pupils’ progress.
During the launch, Education Minister Priya Manickchand stated that, following an assessment, it was highlighted that a significant number of pupils at each school were not reading at their grade level. Minister Manickchand said the children will be engaged in a strict six-week literacy programme.
The Education Minister noted it is important that the programme be conducted effectively, and urged parents to play their roles in providing support for their children. She advised parents that for the programme to work, their children need to attend school consistently.
Curriculum Subject Specialist – Information Technology, Kim Spencer, noted that the robotics component of the programme will not only see learners getting a chance to work in groups with their friends to assemble robots, but the literacy aspect would play a big role in the robotics component, as the children will have to read and comprehend the instructions to build the robots correctly while still having fun.
In February, the programme was officially launched at the Den Amstel Primary School. These four schools form part of the programme’s pilot.