$48.6M spent to improve Math, English performance

─ Education Minister responds to Opposition’s question in National Assembly

─ this year’s NGSA results “speaks of where we are coming from and where we are going” – Min. Henry

DPI, Guyana, Thursday, August 9, 2018

The Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry, yesterday in the National Assembly, supported her ministry’s spending of the $48.6Million for the period 2017-2018.

Responding to the question from the Opposition side of the House as to how the $48.6Million was spent to improve performance in Grade Six mathematics, Minister Henry said the funds were spent in five strategic areas.

The first area saw $28Million being spent on the training of content and methodology for 548 Grade Five and Six teachers from across the ten administrative regions. Secondly, the recruitment of 10 mathematics monitors and 40 coordinators cost the ministry $7Million. The third strategic component involved the training of 450 school administrators, coordinators and head teachers, responsible for the supervision of Grade Five and Six teachers from Regions One, Three. Eight, Nine and Ten. A total of $6.8Million was spent on this exercise. The fourth strategic area involved diagnostic assessments conducted in all ten regions at the cost of $2.9Million. Finally, $3.4Million was invested in a community-based participation project.

On the matter of additional funds and resources used in 2017, the Education Minister said, of the $258 Million spent, $6.153Million was invested in training teachers, administers, coordinators and monitors throughout the country for the entire period 2017-2018. The remaining $64.35Million was utilised for the placement of advertisements, math clinics, two mock examinations.

Addressing the question on what corrective measures will be implemented in 2019 to improve pass rates in two-course subjects, Minister Henry said measures are being put in place to include capacity building and training for teachers, head teachers and education officers; the strengthening, monitoring and supervision of teachers and targeted interventions and remedial programmes at the primary level in all of the regions.

The minister also highlighted that the Mathematics camp for Grades Four and Six pupils will continue. The ministry will also be embarking on outreaches and engaging with parents and community representatives in the respective regions.

Minister Henry also noted that with regard to the 2018 NGSA results, “in the case of English Language, it turns out to be the best year in terms of performance with 60 percent pass in English.” The minister said this year’s results “speaks of where we are coming from and where we are going.”

By: Teresa Newton

Image: Jules Gibson