MoE distributes learning materials to hinterland communities

Learning materials inclusive of worksheets have been distributed to several hinterland communities to assist students there with their studies during the period of school closure amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last weekend, Education Minister Priya Manickchand visited Baramita, Matthews Ridge, Port Kaituma, Mabaruma and Moruca in Region One (Barima-Waini).
She was accompanied by the Ministry’s Chief Planning Officer (CPO) Nicola Johnson and Parliamentary Secretary to the Amerindian Affairs Minister, Sarah Browne.
The Minister also visited Imbaimadai, Kamarang, Paruima, Kaikan and Bartica in Region Seven (Cuyuni- Mazaruni).
In discussions with residents, parents, students and other community members, the Education Minister explained what the Ministry was currently doing to ensure learning continued and children were kept engaged during this time.
She told the residents that owing to the coronavirus pandemic, the education sector has been affected and as such, learning has to be done differently, since schools are not yet cleared for physical reopening.

It was in this context that the Education Minister explained that in addition to online teaching, the Learning Channel will be used for delivering daily lessons to students across all levels and grades.
In addition, residents were encouraged to tune into their community radio stations for the Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) programme and also the Broadcast to Schools.
Noting the peculiar situation that is confronting the nation, Manickchand said that a blended approach to learning has been adopted by the Ministry of Education (MoE) and therefore communities that have challenges with Internet connectivity and non-access to the Guyana Learning Channel would be engaged differently.
It is towards this end that the Education Minister assured that all of the nation’s children will be meaningfully engaged irrespective of where they are located. During these visits, she distributed worksheets and other printed learning resources for students in the two regions. The other hinterland regions are currently receiving their batches.
Residents also shared concerns and suggestions with Minister Manickchand, who assured them that these would be addressed. She said that there was no better situation than teachers and students having face-to-face interaction, but this was not possible at this time.
Notwithstanding that, the Minister noted that the focus of the Ministry was to ensure that there was minimal learning loss to students and no effort would be overlooked to ensure that this was realised. The hinterland students now have worksheets for the next month and additional materials are currently being prepared to ensure students, both in the hinterland and other communities, are continuously engaged until schools reopen.
The worksheets cover work the students would have been doing in the classroom and are for the nursery, primary, and secondary levels.