news from 2002news from 2002The Guyana Education Access Fund today entered Phase 2 of its operation - supporting schools directly to develop their own school-community projects.
In Region 6, Tagore Memorial and Skeldon High received funds. Tagore is planning to start skills training and Skeldon High will be starting a literacy project.
In Linden, New Silvercity have received money to support a stationery project - allowing the school to operate its own low-cost shop. Christianburg Wismar and New Linden Foundation both received money to support poultry projects at the respective schools, giving classes the chance to learn the practical aspects of basic chicken farming.
The fourth GEAP Education Access Fund Presentation Ceremony was held this month. Monies from it were awarded to community groups from Regions 6 and 10 in order for them to develop local education projects. The groups and projects receiving money were:
Region 6
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Region 10
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Workshops held at the Tagore Memorial Secondary School involved some of the IT Administrators from both regions and resource personnel from the SSRP and NCERD. The participants of this workshop started writing the National Curriculum Guide in Information Technology from Levels 7 to 9.
This workshop is part of the continuing programme for ITAs, as organised by the GEAP IT Team.
Funded by the GEAP Education Access Fund, a three-week theatre workshop was facilitated by NOSCO Academy of Performing Arts at LICHAS, Linden, Region 10. The workshop was attended by students between the ages of 14 and 18.
The aim of the workshop was to improve students' self-confidence and self-esteem through work in drama, dance and music.
Mark Pelling, School Mapping Consultant from the United Kingdom, arrived in Guyana on July 22nd to conduct a geographical study on the school population in the project regions.
Stephen Wilkinson, Information Technology Consultant from the United Kingdom, is back in Guyana for another IT consultancy visit from 27th July to 10th August 2002. While in Guyana he will be working with the GEAP IT Team, Kim Spencer and Richard Ramnarine, to re-cable the CPCE Linden IT Lab, check the existing school IT labs at Tagore Memorial Secondary School and Christianburg Wismar Secondary School, install educational software and support further project IT development.
Lilly Szkuropa, the GEAP Mathematics Subject Specialist, conducted a three days Mathematics workshop at the Tagore Memorial Secondary School. The majority of participants were from Orealla. Other participants were from Tagore Memorial Secondary School, Skeldon High School and some Primary Tops.
Previously, Lily has conducted training sessions for teachers of secondary and primary tops schools in the project region 6. Lilly has worked with teachers' team teaching in classrooms and promoting team-teaching amongst themselves.
The Region 6 Community Development Team organised the Holiday Outreach Programme (HOP) in two locations: Skeldon Estate Community Centre and No. 59 Primary School.
There were fifteen facilitators at each location. These facilitators were made up of community workers and teachers and led activities in:
The Skeldon Estate Community Centre was held on the 15th to 17th July and catered for students' aged nine to thirteen from Crabwood Creek to New Market School. Total number of participants amounted to about one hundred and ten. Similar activities were held at No. 59. Primary School from the 22nd to 24th July and netted a total of some one hundred and fifteen participants.
Other supporters of the event included the Education Supervisor Mr. Bashir Khan, the GEAP Community Development Facilitator and Worker, GEAP IT Teacher Trainer/Technical Support Officer Richard Ramnarine and three persons involved in GEAP Region 10.
Prizes of books were awarded today by His Excellency Mr Edward Glover, the British High Commissioner, to children to Region 10 for participation and excellence in the recent GEAP Short Story Writing competition.
New Silver City Secondary School were particularly well placed, having most winning entries. For this they received a special prize of a complete encyclopaedia set.
Following a similar workshop held previously in Region 6, fifteen teachers from secondary schools in Region 10 participated in a Video Production for Classroom workshop at Linden Learning Resource Centre. The workshop was facilitated by Rawle Craig, Sharon Williams, Oneeka Baird and Sue Miller.
By the end of the workshop the teachers has produced three videos for use in the classroom and had left with many useful skills. (Still) photographs of the workshop can be seen here:
Following on from the successes of previous years, the third Annual Careers Fair for Linden Schools was held today at Kara Kara. This event gives students and employers the chance to meet each other and learn more from each other about the worlds of work and school.
This year the event was organised by the Regional Education Office. Approximately fifteen local employers were present, along with students and teachers from all secondary schools and primary-top departments. For the first time, younger primary children also attended.
Donna Chapman officially opened the proceedings on behalf of the Regional Education Department.
Leena Vadher finished work for the project in Region 10 today. With Marjolein Spee and Steve Cooke, she joined GEAP in September 1999 and worked initially as the science subject specialist. In September 2001 her role was broadened to include responsibility for resource centre development in Region 10.
During her time with the project, Leena has always worked alongside Guyanese colleagues, supporting their advancement as science teachers and supporting the improvement of their school's science facilities. She has been instrumental in the development of improved science labs at Linden Foundation and New Silvercity Secondary Schools.
With Sarah Wood, she took on job of writing the Guyana School Science Handbook, eventually producing a book that is to be distributed to all secondary schools across the country.
Following on from recent Project Steering Committee meetings the entire GEAP team met today at the Georgetown Club to review progress and finalise the Action Plan for the next 20 months.
Building work in all GEAP schools continues apace. In Christianburg Wismar, Linden refurbishment has started and builders are now working to extend classroom area down to the ground floor.
The new school for Linden Foundation is due for completion by September. Walls have been erected and work on the roofing structures is now taking place. Pictures are available online:
Other pictures of the building work can be seen in the news archive from 2001.
John Hilsum conducted the third set of School Improvement Plan workshops for Headteachers and Administrators. The workshops were conducted in both the GEAP Regions.
A workshop, facilitated by Cherlene Baxter-Dennis, the National Work-Study Coordinator, was held over three days this month at the Fruits of Calvary Hall, Wismar, Linden. Participants were made up of parents with secondary-age children from across Linden.
During the workshop, participants had the chance to share practical parenting ideas and learn new handicraft skills.
Two new VSO volunteers from the UK have started work for GEAP as Literacy Specialists. Janis Cushnie has moved into the Region 6 office, whilst Yvonne Hemsley has joined Region 10.
The Region 6 team has also been joined by Ann Stewart. Previously a GEAP local researcher, she is now to work in Community Development.
The third GEAP Education Access Fund Presentation Ceremony was held today. Monies from it were awarded to community groups from Regions 6 and 10 in order for them to develop local education projects. The groups and projects receiving money were:
Region 6
|
Region 10
|
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