Region Three STEAM Fair shows learning can be innovative and fun
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, September 27, 2018
As Education Month continues, the Department of Education in Region Three is engaging its main stakeholders (school children) through various exhibitions and fairs. This time a STEAM fair was hosted for the Primary Division, under the theme for the month “Education for A Good Life Through Innovation and STEAMS” (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, Spirituality).
Pupils and teachers travelled all the way from the West Coast and West Bank of Essequibo and Demerara Counties to the Department of Education Compound, Plantain Walk where a Mathematics and Social Studies Fair was held yesterday. The students were exposed to various learning techniques that are used in the classroom to make the subjects easier to learn.
Co-ordinator, Oslyn Benn Ceaser, who is the Education Officer with responsibility for the Primary Sector, said: “The days for just normal classroom teaching are becoming obsolete and therefore we as educators must become innovative in creating the right atmosphere for our learners so that learning will become fun.” Ceaser noted that having been exposed to many different teachers from various schools across the region, the students would have left learning something new.
A tour of the booths revealed that students were allowed to play various games relating to the two subject areas and every winner was presented with a prize. One booth that proved very popular with the students saw them composing a Mathematics jingle which was recorded for judging later this week.
In an invited comment, Regional Education Officer, Annesta Douglas said the fair was hosted with the intention of promoting and encouraging different methodologies of delivering the curricula to pupils.
Regional Executive Officer, Denis Jaikaran, who also spoke at the activity, assured parents, teachers and pupils that activities of this nature will continue on a timely basis. He agreed that there is a need for more creative and innovative ways of teaching and welcomed this measure from the Department of Education.
Some of the participating schools in the fair were Parika Back Primary, Greenwich Park Primary, Swarswat Primary, Tuschen Primary, Zeelugt Primary, Philadelphia Primary, Leonora Primary, Cornelia Ida Primary, Vreed en Hoop Primary, Windsor Forest Nursery and Primary, Crane Primary, Patentia Primary and Secondary, Wales Primary, Parfaite Primary among others.
Story and Images: Ganesh Mahipaul