Education programme to improve the literacy level

Under UNESCO’s participation programme, the projects implemented during the 2004-2005 biennium were:

1. Curriculum Unit Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports

This project is based in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Kingstown. Project activities commenced in January 2005 and the project is scheduled to be completed in February 2006.{{more}}

The aim of the project is to improve the literacy level of students, out of school youth and adults in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The principal components of the project are the establishment of a resource centre in the Curriculum Unit and the training of literacy coordinators and adult education facilitators.

The activities include:

• Workshops on literacy strategies

• Diagnosing reading weakness

• Remedial interventions

• Disseminating information for training

trainers.

These workshops are being conducted in Kingstown and in the rural schools on a zonal basis.

Collaborators in the execution of this project include the following:

• Primary and secondary school teachers

• Senior technical staff in the Ministry of Education

2. Ministry of Science, Technology and Telecommunications

This project, entitled Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the development of sustainable livelihoods is being implemented by the Science and Technology Unit, Ministry of Science, Technology and Telecommunications. Duration of the project activities is January – December 2005 and location is Kingstown.

The project focuses on Information and Communication Technologies as a tool to provide training at the community level and job creation through self-employment.

Project activities include the following:

• Training programme in web design for unemployed youth

• Training in computer assembly

• Training in computer maintenance

The implementation of this ICT project is being monitored by a project committee comprising officials from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Telecommunications, and the National Institute of Technology and the National Commission for UNESCO.

3. Education Planning and Project Implementation Unit

This project is being administered by the EPPIU based in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports Kingstown. Duration of project activities is January 2005 – February 2006.

The original project concept sought to integrate ICT into the curricular of other subject areas as part of a larger multifaceted IT programme. The current project is aimed at training in computer maintenance for teachers integrating ICT in the delivery of education.

Project activities include the following:

• Course development

• Procurement of support training material

• Delivery of the programme

• Evaluation and certification of trainees

The course, which is being delivered to teachers in the secondary and primary schools in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, i.e. Comp TIA A+ certification, is an international industry credential that validates the knowledge of computer technicians.

The project seeks also to enhance the in house capacity for the maintenance of school computer laboratories.

Collaborators include the Ministry of Science and Technology, Senior Education Officers and the National Institute of Technology.

Additionally one Senior Education Officer received a fellowship from UNESCO and undertook the Masters in Education Planning and Management at the UNESCO International Institute for Education Planning, Paris during the current Biennium.

4. UNESCO National Commission

The Associated Schools Project is administered by the National Commission for UNESCO. Its aim is the participation of teachers and students in selected ASPnet flagship projects.

Duration of project activities is August 2004 – February 2006.

The project is an education project involving secondary and post secondary institutions in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The scope spans heritage and environmental activities.

Project activities include the following:

• School environmental projects re the Small Island Voice project

• Heritage expeditions

• Local history competition for secondary schools

• Symposium for celebration of International Year 2004

• Teacher/student workshop on the Transatlantic Slave Route project

The project seeks to mobilize participating schools to undertake activities in keeping with UNESCO international Aspnet programme.

Collaborators include the UNESCO National Commission Trinidad and Tobago, secondary schools, the Sand watch project Bequia, Grenadines.