Education Ministry Launches Literacy and Numeracy Lessons for Grade Four Students

The Ministry of Education has launched a series of televised programmes to assist students in preparing for the Grade Four Literacy and Numeracy tests on June 30 and July 1.

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, made the disclosure during a statement to the House of Representatives on June 16.

The video programmes, called ‘G4Genuius’, provide revision tips and techniques through storytelling involving children and adults.

The literacy lessons are on writing and reading comprehension, while the numeracy lessons are on place values.

Rev. Thwaites informed that the lessons can be accessed every Monday and Wednesday, from 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on 20 cable channels that transmit programmes by the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (PBCJ).

They are also carried on JETv Monday to Sunday, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; and on DC DIGITAL/LOVE TV, Monday to Sunday, from 4:00 p.m. to 5: 00 p.m.

“This gives coverage to the entire nation and it will soon be available on the Ministry of Education’s website: www.moe.gov.jm,” Rev. Thwaites said.

Meanwhile, the Education Minister said the Grade Four Literacy Test takes on added significance this year, as 2015 is the target date for the country to achieve the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of 85 per cent mastery in literacy by the grade four age cohort.

He noted that the country is 7.6 percentage points below the target.

“It is expected that we will meet that target this year. Remember that 85 per cent equates to a 100 per cent of the cohort who do not suffer from any intellectual or physical challenge which might affect their capacity for this examination,” Rev. Thwaites said.