‘One teaching aid per home’ programme rolled out at Hotoquai

– all grades benefit

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the education sector, teachers at Hotoquai Primary School in Barima-Waini (Region One), are finding innovative ways to adapt to the new normal.

“Every week, the teachers have been coming out and making these teaching aids; whether it is a big book or a game for every household [or] every family,” District Education Officer, Mr. Marti De Souza, told DPI in a telephone interview today.

The project, which started last month, is called the ‘One teaching aid per home’ initiative.

Every level at the school, from Grades One-Six, receives small projects in the four core areas: Science, Social Studies, Mathematics and English.

The fun educational materials range from paper to board games and sometimes includes dominoes and puzzles.

Upon completion of the projects the teachers, “go out into the communities at the homes and teach the parents how to use these educational games, so that the parents can then play the games with the children,” Mr. De Souza explained.

Moreover, every Friday teachers are at the primary school and parents are allowed entry to receive new games.

A drop-box system is also in place to promote social distancing, whereby parents can drop in students’ completed work for teachers to mark and return.

The initiative, which is also bolstered by the Ministry of Education’s distribution of print packages to students, reflects how the cozy hamlet and other villages across the country, have managed to create a ‘community of learning’ through parent and stakeholder involvement, all with aim of keeping learners engaged amid the pandemic.