Specialist teachers upskilled in printmaking for CSEC preparation

Twenty-five specialist secondary school teachers from six education districts have benefitted from training in printmaking, which is expected enhance preparation of students at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) level.
These educators hailed from Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) and Georgetown.

The workshop was aimed at providing teachers with basic and advance skills in CSEC printmaking techniques and fostered the expansion of knowledge in the art form to aid teachers to better prepare students in the expressive form.
According to the Education Ministry, it was recognised that creativity and innovation must be carefully channelled to meet the needs of society.
“As such, educating the nation in the Arts, particularly Visual Arts, contributes significantly to the development of creative and critical thinkers. Creative and critical thinkers are necessary to resolve complex situations that exists in our everyday society. In congruency, the Ministry is positioning its teachers and educators through consistent training to meet the needs of the 21st century learner.”
Integration of the Expressive Arts (Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Arts) is the responsibility of Unit of Allied Arts. The department, in rolling out its mandate, has engaged the services of CSEC Chief Examiner, Wayne Branch to address the needs of the CSEC Visual Arts programme.
In this regard, Branch facilitated the printmaking and a one-day syllabus sensitisation training.
“The Revised Syllabus Meeting exposed thirty-five teachers from education districts Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Nine, 10 and Georgetown to the CSEC Revised Visual Arts Syllabus effective for examinations from May-June 2024. This training allowed teachers to carefully examine the syllabus and note major changes with the view to transition from teaching the current syllabus to the revised syllabus,” the Ministry added.
The initiative of these trainings is a collaborative approach that is aimed at bridging the gaps to enable teachers to expand their competencies, knowledge, skills and concepts. This expansion will equip learners to acquire the skills necessary to successfully respond to global standards.
“The training should not be seen as a comprehensive programme but rather an impetus for in-depth investigation into various aspects of the subject,” the statement further clarified.