THE Ministry of Education has announced that a total of 106 schools, across the primary and secondary levels, will benefit from its remediation programme from the academic year 2022/2023.
Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly said this at a press conference at the ministry's head office in Port of Spain on Monday afternoon.
She recalled that Cabinet approved "a range of operational recommendations" in its revised operational plan for 26 secondary schools in July 2022. In addition, in December 2022, Cabinet approved the implementation of a remediation programme for 80 primary schools.
She said that when it comes to primary schools, the criteria was: the total number and/or percentage of students scoring under 30 per cent in SEA 2021
and in the previous two years, the need for support with regards to the leadership and governance structure at the school, student academic achievement, shortcomings in completion of the curriculum and method of curriculum delivery, high student absenteeism/truancy, high levels of referral re: student indiscipline, high levels of critical incidents, socio-economic challenges, and lack of parental involvement and supervision.
As for secondary schools, she said, the criteria was: Percentage of form one intake for 2020/2021 academic year scoring 30 per cent and under, the percentage of students getting five or more CSEC subjects inclusive of math and English A over the period 2019-2021, and the value-added measure – Comparing students' SEA scores to their CSEC grades five years later.
Gadsby-Dolly said, "The intervention involves the development of a comprehensive, multifaceted, and cohesive system of support.
"The intent of such is to ensure that students are well-positioned to achieve at minimum, basic certification for future self-sufficiency."
It was recommended that these schools have adjustments made to areas including leadership, teacher development, student services, security, curriculum, discipline and resources and infrastructure.
In total, the ministry will hire 80 learning support assistants and school social workers, seven senior school social workers and 40 guidance counsellors.
In addition, the implementation of the vacation revision programme, online literacy programmes, after-school support programmes for students in standard three to five, and training of 400 teachers, curriculum officers and school supervisors "in various areas for enhanced curriculum delivery and school operations."
At the secondary school level, measures have already been implemented, such as the assignment of dedicated SSSD staff, three learning assistants each, the Lower Secondary Proficiency Exam (LSPE), the ongoing partnership with the TTPS, ongoing training of teachers and principals, close monitoring of the curriculum implementation and school operations, the vacation revision programme, provision of internet throughout the school compound, approval for significant refurbishment works."
Restorative practices will also be introduced to ten secondary schools.
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