BVI News

New subject introduced in BVI schools

Education Minister Sharie de Castro recently announced that a new subject will be taught in the territory’s public secondary schools starting this month.

The subject is called S.T.E.A.M. Innovations and is designed to equip students with essential skills and knowledge in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM).

Speaking in the House of Assembly last week, de Castro said the course aims to prepare students for the professions of the future by fostering creativity, problem-solving abilities, and a deep understanding of modern technologies.

She explained that all students in seventh grade will do the new course, which will see them developing research skills and learning the nuances of the various applications on the Google platform; improving their chances of success in all other classes.

“Throughout the course, students will engage in critical thinking exercises and projects that encourage them to analyze complex problems, think creatively, and make informed decisions. In an increasingly digital world, students will develop the skills and competencies that will foster digital literacy by learning about online safety, data privacy, and responsible technology use,” the Education Minister stated.

Eight and ninth graders will be able to select the course as one of their technical subjects. Students will also learn about programming and gain hands-on experience in creating software applications, games, and websites.

The Minister also said the knowledge students will gain from the course will be crucial for careers in software development, computer science and other technological fields.

According to de Castro, the course is a part of the Ministry’s five-year plan to reimagine education in the territory.

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18 Comments

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  1. STEAM says:

    The Luddites are going to object

    Like 2
    Dislike 3
  2. Nutcase says:

    Education minister should know better that this is not even a subject.

    Like 25
    Dislike 2
  3. Reasonable Man says:

    This sounds really interesting. I think if it is done well it could be very good.

    Like 7
    Dislike 2
  4. Prophecy says:

    Preparation for the beast system.

    Like 6
    Dislike 1
  5. I blame says:

    the cats.

    Like 1
    Dislike 1
  6. Styles. says:

    Let the education minister please follow the subject:

    LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE

    She and her family (including boyfriend) stole money from the BVi I people under the covid grants.

    And although Natalio (another cr**k) doesn’t see a problem with that, the people with a brain actually see that as a problem.

    De Castro, hand back the money or resign.

    Like 22
    Dislike 4
  7. lol says:

    As long as we are not seriously preparing the students to sit and be successful at any internationally recognized exams on graduation we are doing them a disservice.

    Like 16
    Dislike 1
  8. Unknown District says:

    Every Minister comes in with their own way in how they think things suppose to run and it goes. Where is the plan of Education? A minister should not have such power to change the system every 4 years. We need to establish an Education Board that has the responsibility for the schools which would include curriculum, facility, staffing, etc and report to the body.

    Our students are now becoming testing bunnies.

    This is the worst government ever.

    Like 22
    Dislike 4
  9. ReX FeRaL says:

    The children need to learn how to read comprehend what they read and write.

    Like 18
    Dislike 1
  10. Burning Spear says:

    We need a subject in school about Marcus…Garvey that is

    Like 3
    Dislike 1
  11. @ReX FeRaL says:

    You missed out a comma. How ironic.

  12. Popeye says:

    Ok boys and girls, try to guess what Head Coach would have received without using your calculator if he had received 10% of a $60,000,000 shipment. And how much would Head Coach have received every four weeks assuming each weekly shipment was worth $60,000,000. And as a bonus question, how much would Head Coach have received in one year.

  13. Lol says:

    They makin up their own crap now. Its really only supposed to be S.T.E.M. (Science Technology Engineering and Math). The only 4 real subjects that move the world into the future. These things however should be introduced from the kindergarten level so it becomes part of the child’s being. The BVI needs to write their own curriculum and support their private school system if they want to see a strong generation of children come to fruition. There is a dark and sinister plot to confuse the face and identity of the bvislander so the enemy can move freely amongst us with minimal resistance and they are taking advantage of our kind and open hearts.

    WAKE UP.

  14. We have a problem says:

    STEAM is a teaching approach, not a subject.

  15. Blue says:

    How about teaching them life skills, like money management and budgeting? The value of paying bills on time and without penalty. AND Then leading by example instead of slowing the whole economy with tardy payments

  16. STEAM says:

    STEAM actually stands for: Stop Thiefing Everybody Actually(hard-earned) Money

    Lesson 1 – tell yuh mudda put back my money
    Lesson 2 – tell yuh sista put back my money
    Lesson 3 – tell yuh BOYFRIEND put back my F’in money!

    School bell ring. Don’t come back till that assignment DONE!

    Stop voting for sick minded people who have no remorse or shame over their wrongdoings. You all have been warned! The only Lesson she can teach is how to steal and lie! Bye!!

  17. S.T.E.A.M. Professional says:

    This is literally just all the classes students already take rolled into one class. That’s not a new subject. That’s an entire discipline of study that consists of at minimum hundreds of fields. As if the Integrated Science and General Science classes taught from elementary school don’t cover half of that being that they are multiple classes rolled into one. Unless the class covers something further than already covered in the Science, technology, math, art and trade classes already offered. If indeed the focus of the class is on innovations in the field and the topics covered relate specifically to teaching new tools, techniques, discoveries etc that have and/or are being developed rather than already established topics that are already taught in those classes. If this is to be effective at the goal it has to cover emerging knowledge and skills on par and at pace with the world we live in to be able to keep up and remain adequately equipped. Exposure to such things would require an investment that doesn’t seem likely to be made especially with the manner in which this is spoken of as it sounds as though the government is rather unfamiliar with the subject in true government fashion, of which hopefully the resulting outcome is not of such reflection. The one time the government should not through research or science out the window as they usually do is well thus, you can’t avoid it when it’s the subject you want to teach, except obviously during a pandemic where 100 years of scientific medical knowledge collected by the collective of humankind and doctors and scientists are crazy unless they agree with incorrect Science presented by non scientist politicians and officials without even a political science degree at the very least to claim some false semblance of science that looks way worse on the inside than on the putside when face to face with the affectedand suffering. An act that itself was unscientific/antiscientific and against science ethics and would be in direct contradiction with this class. Consult the people who are familiar with this and actually listen to them. There are scientists, artists, engineers,
    craftspeople, tradespeople, technologists etc throughout the community. Consult with the students and listen to them. they are the future bearers of those titles and positions. Provide the proper tools and material and whatever resources are needed to facilitate this properly otherwise you will do more to harm, hamper and hinder the students than help. Otherwise we will have doctors moving from #3 leading care of death to 1, electricians and electrical engineers blowing things up and taking out the power, mechanics having cars fail on the road and cause accidents cause students are ill-equipped to do the job with rapidly evolving technology, science etc. and having seen what happens when one messes up in such fields.

  18. Me says:

    Guyana have more than 23 subjects

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