Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 22, 2019 (SKNIS): The Ministry of Education, through the Curriculum Development Unit (CDU) is, this week (January 21-25), holding a number of sessions to engage with stakeholders to map the way forward for the National Curriculum Reform.
Policy Goal Two of the 2017 – 2021 Education Sector Plan addresses strengthening the quality and relevance of education at all levels in order to improve learning. An important outcome of Programme Area Two is the implementation of a revised national curriculum and learning assessment system.
Public consultations with parents, students, civil society, faith-based groups, industry, private sector, and the wider community on both St Kitts and Nevis were held at the Old Boys School and the Old Girls’ School.
Dr. Jeff Orr and Dr. Monica Williams from the St. Francis Xavier University, Canada, facilitated one of the sessions.
“Nothing is more important to a nation than its education system because it is the place where everyone has the opportunity to learn and develop not only their knowledge about things, but the skills and value that they need to embark on a successful, important work in supporting not only their individual needs, but those of the nation as a whole,” said Dr. Orr speaking to the participants.
Dr. Orr said it is important to hear different perspectives and experiences to revise the national curriculum. He said that he was pleased that many persons, in particular students, came to participate in the sessions.
“It’s delightful and an honor to have so many students here with us today and this is really what curriculum and education are all about -making sure that our systems do everything that they can to provide opportunities for young people, students to have experiences, to help them be the best that they can be for their own individual desires and aspirations of learning but also for society,” he said.
It was also equally important that parents participated in the meeting as they are “a crucial part of the support for children and youth in schools,” said Dr. Orr.
During the sessions various questions were posed by the facilitators including what the students liked about school, their favorite subjects and why.
Other consultative workshops with key stakeholders within the education system began on Tuesday, January 22 and will conclude on January 24. There will also be visits to several educational institutions across the Federation on Friday, January 25.
