de Castro defends introduction of robotics in primary schools
Minister for Education, Sharie de Castro, defended the government’s plan to introduce robotics in primary schools, calling it a step towards making learning more interactive for students.
During her address in the House of Assembly on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, as part of the ongoing budget debate, de Castro explained the ministry’s vision of reimagining education.
“We must agree that children learn differently, and we have not been teaching them in the way that aligns with how they learn,” de Castro stated.
She highlighted that many students have become disengaged with the education system as a result of outdated teaching methods.
“Children don’t simply regurgitate facts on an exam just to get a grade. They internalize and learn through experience, fostering literacy skills in ways that traditional methods often fail to do,” she said.
The Minister stressed that some students do not thrive under conventional learning standards.
“When we give them an exam and ask them to memorize computations versus providing a robotics kit and asking them to build something, the difference is clear,” de Castro explained.
“Such hands-on learning embeds knowledge and makes it fun because students are developing transferable skills,” she added.
De Castro further emphasized that robotics is not an isolated subject, but part of a broader, multi-disciplinary approach aimed at enhancing students’ learning capabilities.
“Some people may think we are focusing too much on robotics, but it’s actually a holistic approach that integrates skills students learn through robotics and other disciplines, such as chess,” de Castro stated.
In October 2024, de Castro announced plans to introduce robotics in primary schools starting in 2025. She explained that exposing young students to these concepts will help cultivate critical thinking and innovation.
The Minister also underscored the importance of incorporating robotics and technology into early education, noting that these skills will be crucial for future careers in engineering, computer science, and artificial intelligence.
The Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports adopted STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) as its thematic focus in 2022, reaffirming its commitment to preparing students for a technologically advanced future.
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All she doing is having the students play with toys. That’s the education strategy. Nothing else.
I sorry I gave her my vote. Next election I hope you create robots to vote for you. She has no voice on nothing other than the subject she appointed to.
Don’t forget she was elected as an at large candidate by the whole territory and is invisible unless cameras are present.
A good “educational” moment that persons need to stop voting on emotions and crowd following and vote for the betterment of this country.
This brings me back to the message that for years I’ve been trying to get across. That being: over 60% of children are creatively, rather than academically inclined, and that includes up to 20% of students who (like me) are dyslexic.
Above all else, the Caribbean needs creative thinkers and doers. At present this most important human resource is being neglected and going to waste.
My video on the importance of creative subjects in schools illustrates the point I am making.
Roger Burnett
NOTE TO ADMIN: Here’s a link to the video: https://youtu.be/JEN2bpSbwzI I hope your editorial policy allows it to be included. It is very relevant to getting the message across.
Robotics shouldn’t be taught in primary schools because it’s expensive, and most young kids won’t fully understand it. At this age, it’s more important to focus on basic skills like reading, writing, and math, which build the foundation for learning more advanced subjects later. Not every child will be interested in robotics, so it’s better to introduce it in high school or college when they’re older, more prepared, and can choose to learn it if they want.
I totally agree with you. Our students need to master the foundational skills that can help with robotics. Even at the high school level many students seem quite uninterested in robotics. My opinion is that the minister has no plan to push education to the next level. Her STEAM (stolen idea) is her plan until she’s voted out.
It is true that all students do not learn the same way or conventionally. However, it seems like the minister thinks that robotics will fix this problem. I disagree. Our students still need to be able to read and comprehend the basics before doing robotics From all indicators, the minister has no plan to purposely push education forward, in short- she doesn’t know what she’s doing and her CEO is no help either since she has not taught past the lower primary. She’s just there for the trips and to promote her friends.When Sharie leaves, education will need a overhauling from years of her doing nothing.
If teachers were to vacate their positions like she did when she came up on challenges, what would happen? It’s sad that educators have a quitter leading them. How can she provide insight and motivation when she herself is a bad example.
I applaud those teachers who continue to give of their best in spite of the challenges. I applaud those teachers who continue to go above and beyond the call of duty for the nation’s children and its future. But, as for the minister and her CEO, they’re neither leading or following. They should get out of the way.
Another thing to waste time in school. You have students who can’t read can’t spell, can’t construct a simple sentence, can’t express themselves. Every week is some special week that require time away from regular classes. If these students have to do the same exam being done in the region they will fail dismally. Some of the teachers themselves can’t read spell nor write. Poor us!