By Tahna Weston
The Ministry of Education will undertake a pilot programme to determine the feasibility for longer hours in the school day for public secondary school students.
Minister of Education Daryll Matthew during Wednesday’s Cabinet sitting reported that the study will be done in two schools, being described as schools with a large and small population.
Matthew said that the trial will be aimed at those students who are not already engaged in after-school programmes.
“So, the pilot programme that we will be putting in place and executing to look at the extension of the school day in the secondary schools, in the first instance, given that the primary schools end at three o’clock and so the unsupervised hours are limited as compared to the secondary school students that end at 1.30-that programme will be starting in January with two schools.
“Those two schools have already been identified; the principals are fully on board,” Matthew said, during an interview with Observer.
While Matthew did not reveal the name of the pilot schools during the interview, during the post Cabinet press briefing, Information Minister Melford Nicholas named Glanvilles Secondary and Sir Novelle Richards Academy as the schools to take part in the pilot programme, in response to a question posed by a reporter.
In explaining the mechanics of the pilot, Matthew noted that those students who are currently involved in extracurricular activities, for example students who are engaged in music or sports, “will continue to do the things they’re involved in.”
However, those students who are not taking part in any after school programmes will have programs in place “whether it is cadets or music or dance,” the minister said.
Matthew added that the Ministry of Education will be inviting and meeting with some of the social clubs, including the Scouts in order for them to provide a student coordinator or student leader to visit the schools to revive some social activities.
He said the “pilot phase” of the initiative will take place two or three days per week, and will then be expanded to five days depending on the outcomes.
“All they will need to do is to provide some sort of documentation from the organization that they are a part of already, to say the student is engaged with us on these afternoons a week so that the student will just continue to do what they’re doing.
Asked about the manpower to handle this initiative, Matthew said civil society would be engaged as well to cover a wider range of activities that could be offered to students.
“And that’s why we’re doing it as a pilot because for example the Department of Culture that employs dance instructors and music instructors definitely won’t have enough instructors for every programme but that’s why we’re going to be working along with civil society.
The Rotary Club for example has an Interact Programme that deals with young people, they could now use it as an opportunity to expand that programme within the school so two afternoons a week,” the minister said.
While concerns have been expressed about teachers spending longer at the school plant, Matthew was clear to say that there will be no extra teaching time as there is no expectation of extra academic work to be done in the after school hours.
Students will be expected to be on the school plant up until “about four o’clock”, Matthew said.
While the initiative is aimed at reducing loitering in St John’s and improving miscreant behaviour among students, the education minister stressed that it is primarily aimed at creating better citizens and residents.
