Students across the country have started the new school year this week and have also returned to in person learning. Since 2020, students have had to learn virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to education officials some students have experienced learning loss. To combat this loss officials at the Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training intend to implement accelerated education programs.
Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training, the Hon. Glenys Hanna Martin spoke with ZNS and gave an update on the virtual program. She said, “we’re trying to identify a company that will assist us with a platform that can measure learning loss in every child and that can help us design acceleration learning programs at each grade level. That work is underway and we are being told that around the end of September, early October, we’ll be able to start testing and rolling out acceleration programs.”
According to the Minister, over the summer break schools were occupied with students participating in enrichment programs or catch up programs. On this she stated, “we’ll know when we start measuring, but I do anticipate that that would have had some impact on whatever fallout there’s been from COVID-19.”
Minister Hanna Martin also foreshadowed some of what her ministry intends to do in the future to further enhance education. She said, “one of the things that we are going to be doing is expanding technical and vocational education, so that young people who are gifted and talented in those areas can find an outlet and a growth journey for themselves.”
The 2022/2023 school year began this past Monday.
