THE MINISTRY of Education, Youth and Culture will introduce a treatment programme for students who have not achieved the required score in the Grade Nine Achievement Test (GNAT) and consequently did not earn automatic placement in the secondary school system.
The Student Empowerment Programme, which will be introduced in schools September, will provide additional corrective instruction as well as enrichment activities to bring the students up to the functional level where they can benefit from formal instruction in the secondary school system.
It is anticipated that they will be reintegrated into the secondary school system after benefiting from the SEP.
According to Dr. Deloris Brissett, deputy chief education officer for curriculum and support services, "The programme is a short-term intervention strategy for students who will remain in it long enough to learn how to learn; develop positive self-esteem; make up learning deficits; acquire skills to prepare them to move into the regular grade 10 programme or to enter the job market."
A major feature of the intervention is routine visual and auditory screening as well as diagnostic testing and educational and psychological assessment of students prior to and during their involvement in the programme.
FOCUSING ON SPECIFIC NEEDS
This, the Ministry of Education said, is to diagnose their major strengths, weaknesses and learning disabilities in order to design and organise the appropriate activities and instruction that will treat with specific needs of students.
Students will be exposed to a curriculum revolving around a core of five subjects - English language, mathematics, integrated science, social studies and information technology.
Additionally, each student will be exposed to at least one technical/vocational subject where possible; timetabled guidance and counselling to emphasise personal development; health and family life education and entrepreneurial skills. They will also be provided with opportunities for spiritual development.
More than 250 specially selected empowerment teachers will be deployed in just under 200 classrooms in strategic centres and schools islandwide to provide instruction to just under 4,000 students.
The Student Empowerment Programme will run for approximately five years at cost of $17 million annually.
In 2005, approximately 3,400 students who sat the Grade Nine Achievement Test (GNAT) were not placed initially as they tallied below the 30 per cent cut score. According to the Ministry of Education, reports obtained from principals suggest that a large number of students promoted to grade 10 in 2004/2005 continued to underperform.
