Education Ministry: Vocational students being supported during covid19

The Ministry of Education says its Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Unit has been fully functional since the closure of all schools on March 16.

In a release on Friday, the ministry said the unit has been “supporting students in continuing their courses of study” at the CSEC, CAPE and CVQ (Caribbean Vocational Qualification) levels.

It added that it has been developing “daily learning activities” for teachers which are uploaded to a learning management system.

“There are 23 activities for technology education and over 100 activities for CSEC/CVQ and CAPE which were developed over the course of the last five weeks. These have been uploaded to the Ministry of Education’s online school learning management system and have incorporated syllabus content, simulated practical activities through electronic links, student activities and self-testing.”

It said the ministry is aware many subjects also have practical and oral contents, so it is making efforts to ensure there are interactive videos and simulations to assist with this.

“TVET education, while present in all tiers of the education system, has a more pronounced content base in the secondary school system. The lower secondary school has the TVET subject, technology education, as a compulsory subject in forms one to three.

“Schools across the nation offer, at forms four to five, many TVET subjects including CSEC home economics, agricultural science, industrial technology, business and technical drawing. Several of these subjects are also offered at CAPE level.”

The ministry said it remains committed to working with stakeholders of the education system to ensure students are being supported amid the covid19 pandemic.