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HRH, The Prince of Wales and His Excellency the president Visit Tagore Memorial School - 26 February 2000 The Prince of Wales and president Jagdeo visited Tagore Memorial School to commission the 15 computers which were provided by GEAP. Everybody involved stated that the visit was a roaring success. Thanks to all concerned. Air Conditioned Computer Room Opened at Tagore Memorial School The computer room which was opened by our Honoured Guests is serviced by 4 air-conditioned units and is furnished with 16 specially constructed computer desks. First cohort of Information Technology Teachers Trained Stephen Wilkinson, the VSO IT Teacher Trainer from region 10 facilitated an intensive week-long workshop for the fifteen teachers from the project secondary schools. Further programmes will follow early next term. Thanks Stephen. Two New VSO Teacher Trainers Join the Region 6 Team Norma Mckenzie - Teacher Trainer English Language Education and Sarah Wood - Teacher Trainer Science Education joined the GEAP Team in late February. Welcome to Region 6 Norma and Sarah. Varqa Screening Programme An intensive training programme on the assessment of pupils learning needs has been facilitated by Brian O'Toole and Christine Brisport of the School of Nations, Georgetown. 20 teachers from the project primary and secondary schools have been trained to administer the Varqa Tests. These teachers are to be supported by 8 trained community researchers. Bernadette Higgins is the regional coordinator. Consultations with Project Architect The project architects from design Collaborative visited the three secondary schools in late February to discuss the final plans for refurbishment. members of the respective school communities made several minor amendments. Site plans are available fro inspection in Skeldon Line Path school, Skeldon High School and the GEAP Office at Benab. The building work will now be put to tender and should start in September. Pre-Qualification Workshop Held in Georgetown GEAP in association with Design Collaborative facilitated a workshop for builders to support their applications to tender for refurbishment work. Local contractors attended. Science Consultation Successfully Completed Brian Wind the BESO Consultant completed his short-term consultancy in early March. The purposes of this consultancy were to:-
Thanks Brian for a job well done. GEAP Grant to CPCE Rosehall Negotiations are currently taking place with the management of CPCE Rosehall for the disbursement of a G$5,000,000 GEAP Grant to the centre. The Ministry of Education has also allocated G$300,000 for refurbishment work at the centre. Schools Submit Applications for School Improvement Grants GEAP was allocated a grant of G$200,000 to the three secondary schools for purchasing resources related to their School Improvement Plans. Tagore Memorial School has already purchased a photocopying machine with this grant. Strengthening the Partnership with GUYSUCO GUYSUCO Skeldon Estate have demonstrated their continued support for the project by allowing their facilities to be used for workshops and other events. A special than you to Mr. Ramkeerat and Mr. Murray for continued support to GEAP. Thank you to Corriverton Civic Centre Thank you to Mrs. Baijnauth, Mr. Harripaul and staff of the Civic Centre for kindly accommodating GEAP activities on several recent occasions. Lets have your contributions for the next Newsletter
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Dept. of Education, Benab Sub Office
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Corriverton NewsletterAugust 2000 |
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Project ManagementThe Guyana Education Access Project here in Corentyne is making significant input in the community. There were several community meetings held to inform and discuss the Project’s plan and current activities among which are the availability of the Education Access Fund. This is a fund made available to community groups who will provide education related resource so as to ensure an easier access to education, and the amalgamation of Primary Tops students into the Secondary Schools. The most recent meeting was held last month in which Michael Latham met with teachers, students, members of the PTA and community researchers. The meeting was a success with active participation from all. Mr. Latham duly recorded comments and suggestions. School ResourcesGEAP presented the first of a series of learning materials in the form
of textbooks on 30th May 2000. This presentation was held at the Skeldon
High School to the three project Secondary Schools. The books were handed
over by Mr. Hydar Ally Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education and Mr.
Ed Caesar Chief Education Officer. Also present were Mr. Paul Worral
Regional Advisor (GEAP), Ms. Helen O’Rielly the then Project Manager of
GEAP, Mr. Desmond Burningham Field Manager DFID,
Teacher TrainingThe Voluntary Service Overseas Volunteers, the local Teacher Trainers and the Community Development Worker have all been working diligently to improve the present education system in the Region 6 Project area. VSOs Bernadette Higgins - Remedial Subject Specialist, Sarah Wood – Science Subject Specialist, Naiomi Wallace – Mathematics Subject Specialist and Norma McKenzie – English Subject Specialist visits Secondary and Primary Tops schools within the Project area and conducts training sessions with teachers. Norma McKenzie also conducted a successful two days Book Binding and Book Repair workshop on 10th and 11th July for school Librarians and teachers. Local Information Technology Teacher Trainer Richard Ramnarine conducts training sessions for teachers at the Tagore Memorial Secondary School. The first cohort of teachers taken from the three Secondary schools completed their first course in July 2000. Kim Spencer – Local Information Technology Training Co-ordinator main responsibilities are: co-ordinating and conducting of Information Technology sessions for Teachers, Community Researchers, Ministry Officials and Voluntary Service Overseas Officers. She conducted training session for the first group of community researchers in July 2000 and assisted Richard with the second group, which was completed in mid August. Added to that she is also trying to include Information Technology in the CPCE curriculum for both Secondary and Primary option students in Region 6. Presently Bernadette, Sarah, Norma and Naomi are assisting project schools with their Book Order Lists. |
Community DevelopmentAshwari (Savtri) Ramdass the Community Development Worker has been very active in the community in helping to organise Women’s groups and encouraging parents to send their children to school. VSO Ms. Sue Miller Community Development Facilitator will be joining Ashwari in September. Holiday Outreach ProgrammeBernadette has organised the Holiday Outreach Programme (HOP) which is divided into two groups for the Post Secondary Schools Entrance Examination students. The HOP was a one-week programme that includes Literacy, Sports, Music and Art and Craft. This programme is the first of its kind in the project area. The first group, which was accommodated at the Skeldon Community Centre catered for approximately 120 students from Crabwood Creek to No.71 Village. That session began on the 24th July and concluded on the 28th July. The second group, which also catered for approximately 120 students
from No. 68 Village to No. 43 Village, began on 7th August and concluded
on the 11th August.
Other ActivitiesThe GEAP Conference was hosted by the Corriverton team at the Corriverton Civic Centre on the 25th and 26th June. Present at the conference were:
Contacting GEAPMr. Paul Worral (Regional Advisor)
Mr. Bashir Khan (Regional Advisor Counterpart)
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Dept. of Education, Benab Sub Office
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Corriverton NewsletterOctober 2000 |
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World Literacy DaySeptember was Education Month and the Region 6 GEAP Team conducted activities to recognise this. One such activity was the READ READ READ DAY held on World Literacy Day, September 8th 2000. This activity was a whole day exercise commencing at 9am when the team met at the Corriverton Market set up stalls to display reading materials and invited passers-by to stop and read. Both adults and children participated . Some read to each other in groups while some preferred to read individually. There was an assortment of stories (fiction and non-fiction), extracts and poems by Peter Jailall and other renowned writers for the public to choose from. In the afternoon reading sessions were carried out simultaneously at Crabwood Creek, No. 43 Village and No. 63 Villages by members of the team. Approximately 130 people (children and adults) attended the various afternoon venues and the event was received very positively.
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Teacher TrainingTraining is on the way in the Information Technology department for Primary Tops and Secondary teachers. Kim Spencer is continuing to support the schools in the project region that have computers. Richard Ramnarine is supporting Kim Spencer and the students and teachers of Tagore Memorial Secondary in the delivering of IT as a subject. Naomi Wallace (Mathematics) is continuing to support CPCE teachers in training and to train Maths teachers in specific topic areas so as to enhance their teaching skills and strategies. Norma Mc Kenzie (English) has started the ball rolling to set up and improve library facilities in the project secondary schools and will continue to train the librarians in bookbinding and other library practices. She is also continuing her English A and B training with teachers. Remedial Subject Specialist Bernadette Higgins continues her support in the delivery of a reading programme for community groups. She is also running Staff Development Sessions on Reading across the Curriculum. Sarah Wood is preparing the Science order for Primary Tops and will be implementing a programme of practical work with the imminent arrival of the equipment order. She is also continuing her support for secondary school teachers in their daily requirements e.g. developing SBAs. Other ActivitiesGEAP hosted its Working Away Day (Retreat) at the Timberhead Resort in the Demerara river on September 25th and 26th . Present were the entire GEAP team. The Away Day focused on developing plans for replication and sustainability of the project. Contacting GEAPMr. Paul Worral (Regional Advisor)
Mr. Bashir Khan (Regional Advisor Counterpart)
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Dept. of Education, Benab Sub Office
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Corriverton NewsletterNovember 2000 |
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Teacher TrainingScience Subject Specialist Sarah Wood and her Region 10 colleague have completed their Science Handbook, which is now ready for publication. She is also continuing her support to project schools. Naomi Wallace (Mathematics) is continuing to train untrained teachers in the secondary schools and secondary sections of the primary tops. She is also supporting CPCE teachers in training in Maths. Naomi is also doing some diagnostic testing in Secondary Schools. English Subject Specialist Norma McKenzie has set up the library for Tagore Memorial and will be doing the same for others soon. She is also continuing her support to English teachers. The Remedial Specialist Bernadette Higgins is continuing to support the teachers in the project region. She is also running a ‘Reading Club’ with 1st Form students and teachers at Tagore where she is assisted by Ashwari Ramdas. Sadly Bernadette Higgins has reached the end of her placement contract and will be returning to the United Kingdom permanently on 31st December 2000. The GEAP team wishes her happiness and success in her future endeavours. Information Technology Training Co-ordinator Kim Spencer is currently working closely with the Rosehall branch of CPCE to get their Information Technology Laboratory set up. She also conducted a basic Computer Training course for all the Headteachers and Deputy Headteachers in the Project Region. Information Technology Teacher Trainer Richard Ramnarine is continuing training with the five teachers from each of the three Secondary schools in the Project region. The Teacher Trainers have completed and sent in the second book order, which should arrive early next year. Education ManagementConsultant John Hilson from the United Kingdom and Regional Advisor Mr. Paul Worrall conducted training programmes for the headteachers from the 14 project schools. This training based on the School Improvement Plan is the second of its kind conducted by Mr. Hilson through GEAP (previously he was here in October 1999). He also held session with the Department of Education staff and Schools Welfare Officers of Region 6. NoticeWe would like some contribution from schools and community members for the newsletter. Contributions can be in the form of:
Please send your contribution to the GEAP Office. |
Community DevelopmentThe Community Researchers are currently conducting a survey to find out which companies/organisations would be willing to take students for a period of time to gain some work experience. This is similar to the local work-study programme. The Community Literacy Programme held its first meeting on 17th October at the Corriverton Civic Centre at which Bernadette, Sue and Ashwari trained three members from five community groups to support Literacy in their community. Of the groups that applied to the Education Acces Fund, five were approved and resubmitted on fulfilment of conditions. The Education Access Fund is a fund that would benefit/support education in some way e.g. providing cheap school uniforms for the needy etc.
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