Gov’t moving towards STEAM-infused education system
Students in the BVI’s public schools are expected to have a much more STEAM-infused approach to learning this school year, according to Education Minister Sharie deCastro.
STEAM learning integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics to encourage interdisciplinary exploration and problem-solving among students and the Education Minister said the government, in implementing this approach, is arming students to better engineer their future in technology.
Through the inclusion of new subjects at the secondary level, with STEAM learning, students will be able to fully explore the landscapes of coding, programming, robotics, and engineering, deCastro explained.
“The shift from rote memorisation to skills-based learning has equipped our students with the tools that they need to excel in a dynamic, ever-evolving world,” deCastro said.
“Through STEAM, we have empowered our students – every single one of you – to think critically, collaborate effectively, and innovate boldly. These skills we know are the cornerstones of success,” she added.
deCastro said the addition of digital literacy classes to the curriculum isn’t just an enhancement, but is necessary and will empower students to keep up with the pace of change and to surge ahead as pioneers of change.
She explained that every school in the territory will, from October 2 to December 7, from Monday to Thursday weekly, at 3:45 pm, engage in STEAM activities, academic tutoring and grassroots sports.
According to the Education Minister, the government has also recognised the impact of education on the economy and has placed greater investment in this area.
“The Premier and Minister of Finance and the entire government of the Virgin Islands is ensuring that we put our money where our mouth is, that we ensure that we fuel economic growth, drive innovation, and create a skilled workforce by ensuring that we provide education the funding and resources that it needs,” deCastro said.
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WAS IT HER THAT PAID MOM’S CAR REPAIR AND BOYFRIEND PHONE/CREDIT CARD BILLS WITH STIMULUS MONEY?
This is all great in concept, but where are the supporting materials that will enable your youth to further explore and understand? We have no robotics, coding, or engineering facilities here in which the youth can gain practical experience. How is this being addressed?
I do appreciate the initiative, I do not want to sound ungrateful for that, but surely in order to see the fruits of such an initiative you must have the supporting materials to bring those visions into fruition?
In addition – ‘According to the Education Minister, the government has also recognised the impact of education on the economy and has placed greater investment in this area’ ……..
Why would you not elaborate on this further? How much are you considering in the way of investment? We want to know what is happening in the education sector. Why can you not tell us details? Surely you would want us to know. We as the paying Public, the very people you work for certainly want to know more!
That little girl is a waste of time. We are in deep deep trouble in this country.
If you peruse the report, you will see that she got Sheep to pay those for her from his allotment. So, I wonder what the payback was.
Sharie…what’s the budget for this initiative? What are the additional resources that have been allocated/purchased and what’s outstanding?
As I see it now, teachers are scrambling to purchase resources out of their own funds (as usual). What exactly are ‘grassroots sports’? Playing marbles? You say from 3:45 until and is this for the select few students or required for all? More questions than answers.
It’s good that the BVI now recognizes the value in education in developing its economy and people. But this is generations after our neighbors have recognized it and the general standard of our education system is appalling. How can we spend millions on flashy buildings and other things that do not generate income and ignore the educational investment that our youth deserves? Schools need to be quality buildings; teachers need to be properly trained and properly paid; and the curriculum needs to be brought forward to what is needed in 2023. Presently, though this is a welcome initiative, I fear that there is no long-term educational vision from government and no desire from the people to push for the investment needed in this area.
Students cannot learn robotics, engineering and technology without a sound understanding of the basic sciences like physics, chemistry and biology, and can read and comprehend also count. What is the true focus of our education system, as full STEAM ahead is just a catchy ohrase. Full steam ahead to WHERE!.
Think about it for a moment. What were the chances of her Guyanese boyfriend getting our Covid money if he was not her boyfriend? How would he have gotten into those political circles being a Guyanese who has not been here a long time to be even considered for assistance? Common sense will tell you that it was all orchestrated. They conspired and use that money to help each other through the families. That’s the same way that the same boyfriend got his belongers when he has not been here for the required length of time. This sounds like pure corruption.
Her boyfriend and her mother went full steam ahead with the treasury money to pay their personal bills. Froom!
Froom!
Well here goes the cart before the horse again. Salt Fish said it all.
Staff or building plumbing problems in many of those school buildings?
A STEAMing pile of shit this is. Just talking about stuff doesnt make it happen! It will take HEAVY investment, resources and many years for this to bear any fruit.
From Good to Not so Great to Hot Humid Air.
BVI Welcome to the STEAM AGE
this lady use our money to pay her family bills
I am surprised of all the Caribbean education ministers ( ministers of what education) who attend their regional meetings and are given high slogan titles or acronym to gloss over an already service driven colonial education system that prepare us to seek jobs not create jobs, the fourth revolution industry will never become our dreams, only working for massa 10% salary. Al the Caribbean ministes are saying the same thing “S.T.E.A.M” But unless we get into geology and deep science to look for resources under our soil we will only be service driven as in tourism and office job for the massa. Looking to a better future.
Whilst the intentions of the MOE is good there’s also a lot of ground work to be done before the whole concept of STEAM could be implemented in the public schools system. How well prepared are the teachers to integrate these concepts into their day to day instructions or is it just another acronym being used to promote education? Despite the efforts being made to improve the quality of education there’s still so much to be desired. I’m hoping for this school year that the Principals would ensure that the teachers use the workbooks (which are very expensive) to compliment the topics they are teaching and do not allow them to be sent home at the end of the school year almost untouched.( Volume 2 in each subject specifically). It’s a waste of parents money considering the high cost of living.