Grenada: Ministry of Education shares update on school refurbishment and rehabilitation

Grenada: The Ministry of Education has shared the update on the refurbishment and rehabilitation of the Schools in the region.

Firstly, the government shared updates on the “New toilet block constructed in the Harvey Vale Government School.” As per the update shared by the government, the construction of a new toilet block at Harvey Vale Government School in Carriacou is 97% complete. Work started in November 2021. The Government of Grenada funds the new toilet block at the cost of EC$ 5226,991.28.

Secondly, the government shared an update on the construction would consist of the “River Sallee Government Pre-Primary School.” The notification by the government stated that despite being disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, rehabilitation and expansion work at the River Sallee Government Pre-Primary School is 98 percent complete. The EC $1.9 Million project includes the reconstruction of 4 classrooms, an internal play area, a new toilet facility, a new kitchen, a Principal’s bathroom, and a storage area. The school also received new fencing and a gate. The Basic Needs Trust Fund funds the construction.

The government also notified about the leadership training provided to the school leaders. The Ministry of Education, in partnership with St George’s University, facilitated a one-day leadership workshop with Principals and Head Teachers on Tuesday. The training sought to strengthen participants’ capacity by exploring the topics- Developing a Leadership Philosophy and Professional Mission; Relational aspects of Leadership: Trust, Communication Power and Privilege, and Professional Growth through inquiry Observation and Feedback. The session was conducted by Fulbright Specialist Dr Ron Scapp and Director of the Master of Education Programme and Associate Professor at St George’s University, Dr Laura Colket.

The government further notified that contemporary Education Leadership and Management mandate that school leaders engage in strategic planning to ensure that schools become more efficient. Proponents of strategic planning assert that strategic planning is a roadmap to achieving educational success. As schools prepare to finalize their School Development Plans for the new academic cycle, it is important that school leaders understand the process of designing and implementing School Development Plans. Since 2018, the Minister of Education has adopted the OECS model for School Development Planning. This new model requires the collaboration of school leaders with a wider range of stakeholders. An imperative is student representation on the School Development Planning Committee. Student representation is essential since it allows for the voice of students to be heard. Soliciting input from both internal and external stakeholders allows for greater collaboration and more authentic data; principals have agreed that the OECS model necessitates that schools engage in self-assessment to identify areas for improvement, rank those areas according to priorities, and set realistic and attainable targets incrementally. School leaders are encouraged to utilize assessment data from both national and regional assessments to establish baselines. This makes setting targets for schools more feasible.

This week, the ministry also celebrated “World Maths Day 2022” on March 23, 2022 (Wednesday). The international celebration was held over a 48-hour period to accommodate all global time zones. Millions of students across the world competed in live Mathematical challenges and other fun math-related activities. Curriculum Officers with responsibility for Mathematics encourage teachers to continue to make math fun, interesting, and relevant for all students. After all, Math is life!