Teachers Given Additional Educational Tools by Ministry

Teachers are being provided with additional educational tools at the Materials Expo, which is being hosted by the Core Curriculum Unit of the Ministry of Education, at the Caenwood Centre in Kingston.
During the two-day event, which opened Tuesday (September 29), principals of primary and secondary schools received curriculum support material developed by the Unit for use in their schools. There were also presentations on the proper use of some of the instructional tools.
The materials being provided at the Expo are expected to supplement the instructional texts used in the various schools, and are aimed at boosting student performance. Resource materials, such as posters, charts, compact discs (CDs), brochures and books, were provided for at least 20 subject areas.
Speaking at the inaugural event, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Audrey Sewell, said the Ministry was committed to providing support materials for schools.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Audrey Sewell (left), examines a book at the science booth at the Core Curriculum Unit of the Ministry of Education’s inaugural Materials Expo, at the Caenwood Centre in Kingston, on Tuesday (September 29). The expo was held to provide schools with support materials to boost the performance of students. Looking on are the Unit’s Mathematics and Information Technology Officer, Janice Steele (centre), and Senior Education Officer responsible for the sciences in the Unit, Dr. Sherril Gardner.

“It is important for us to have relevant resource materials in the teaching and learning process, if we are to realise our target of 100 per cent literacy by 2015. We can do it and we are going to do it,” she declared.
Commenting on the Expo, Mrs. Sewell stated that the “one stop” event would save the school administrators’ time, in organising their operations for the new school year.
Senior Education Officer in the Core Curiculum Unit, Daphne Simon, urged the principals to ensure that the materials provided were used wisely and taken care of, given their costs. But, she encouraged them to ensure that teachers do not restrict their use.
“It’s as painful to us to see books that we send for teachers and students to use preserved from human hands, untouched, pristine. It’s as painful to us to see that, as it is to see books thrown down or handled carelessly. The two things defeat our purpose,” she stated. Approximately 800 principals attended the Expo on Tuesday. It will end Wednesday.