By George Henry, Gleaner WriterSPALDINGS, CLARENDON:
SPANISH WILL be introduced to students at the primary school level when the new school year begins in September, according to Martha Corbett-Baugh, education officer in the Ministry of Education.
Speaking with The Gleaner last Wednesday, Mrs. Corbett-Baugh said Spanish would be introduced to primary school students whose institutions are to be used as part of a pilot project. The schools to be chosen are being identified.
Assessment of teachers to teach the subject has already been done, Mrs. Corbett-Baugh said while noting that not all the teachers are ready and hence training will have to take place.
She said her unit at the Ministry of Education and Culture is currently working on the first draft of the primary curriculum for implementation in September, and that 10 to 15 schools across the country would be chosen for the pilot project.
The education officer noted that the subject was being taught widely at the secondary and the tertiary levels of the education system and that "Every day, more and more persons are watching television, looking at foreign investments and understanding the importance of Spanish."
However, she acknowledged that there was still a long way to go to have the subject taught to all students.
OPENING DOORS
She said: "There are still many more things that need to take place. The media will have to make a stronger participation into airing and producing bilingual programmes. The social programmes taking place in Jamaica will have to consider Spanish as the other language which will open Jamaica's doors to the world, especially to Latin America, being our neighbour".
Although there is still need for more to take place towards establishing the subject among more Jamaicans, Mrs. Corbett-Baugh pointed out that there had been great advancement towards this end.
She stated that the persons who are responsible for the advancement of the subject were well committed, well intended and were determined to take Spanish to a higher level.
Stressing the importance of more Jamaicans speaking the language, Mrs. Corbett-Baugh pointed out that the Spanish had invested significantly or were about to invest heavily in the area of tourism. She also pointed to increasing business with Spanish-speaking countries like the Dominican Republic, Panama and Mexico and others from Central America.
