A group of students from UWI has decided to work on a draft policy for the TT government to ensure all primary schoolchildren are able to properly grasp age-appropriate content by the age of ten.
The group for the Guild of Students visited one primary school in Carenage and did its research by using the Information, Tailoring/Targeting, Professional Development, Observation and Coaching approach (ITPOC).
This research method included mentorships, breakout sessions, teamwork sessions, asynchronous activities with the group, educators and other relevant people.
Though there is a lack of research and data in the country on this issue, the group is still working towards its goal, with the help of the International Republican Institute (IRI) and its Youth Leadership programme.
IRI is an international non-profit organisation based in Washington, DC, with the purpose of working in countries worldwide to combat issues that are not talked about. To date the IRI has worked with 80 countries, 21 of them in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Roger Mitchell, IRI’s resident programme manager, explained the group had to be trained to ensure its members had the necessary information to investigate and put together their policy.
“The course was 16 weeks long and it was focused on topics of leadership and public policy. There were other topics in between, but the overall goal was to provide hands-on, practical experience from those who were in government positions and who had leadership experiences, but also provide tangible examples and de-pack how the public policy being processed is done.”
Mitchell added that the IRI always partners with the country’s government to get its thoughts and input on the work it is doing. He said after the training was completed, the group had a policy proposal which was presented to the public.
This took place during a panel discussion at the Courtyard by Marriott, Port of Spain to then president of then TT Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) Antonia De Freitas, educators from public and private schools, and principals and teachers of the intended schools for the pilot project.
[caption id="attachment_983192" align="alignnone" width="1024"] A snapshot of the post pandemic development plan which the UWI students intend to promote to help primary education students. - ROGER JACOB[/caption]
This presentation, on August 13, was led by Fana Wiggins, a final-year environmental engineering student. Wiggins said Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly was invited, but was unable to attend.
Despite her absence, Wiggins said, “She did inquire into what the policy was about, for more information during our attempts to get her thoughts on the policy during the design phase. Her questions did offer us some insight into areas of improvement.”
She added that the group also contacted TTUTA, which was more active in helping it execute its policy proposal.
“The president, Antonia De Freitas, even offered to meet with us
