Education

Almost 150 young persons registered for the National Youth Conference held at the House of Chandeliers on September 27-28. The slogan of the conference and principle idea was “Promoting Youth Involvement in Governance – The Future is Now.” The conference was primarily designed to serve as a mechanism to ensure that a youth perspective is mainstreamed into the development process.

“Better working conditions for teachers mean better learning conditions for learners,” President of the Anguilla Teachers Union, Leroy Hill, declared as he delivered a message on Monday, October 1, in observance of World Teachers’ Week.

Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Dr. Hazel Simmons-McDonald, and the Acting Director of the School of Continuing Studies Mrs. Luz Longsworth were in Anguilla last week. The purpose of their visit was to meet one last time with the University of the West Indies Board for Non Campus Countries and Distance Education.

In May/June 2007 a total of 58 candidates in Upper and Lower Six at the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School wrote subjects at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency level. There were 218 subject entries.

In May/June 2007 a total of 172 candidates from the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School wrote the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) examination for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) at the Basic, Technical and General Proficiencies. There were 923 subject entries of which 848 were at the General Proficiency, 32 at the Technical Proficiency and 43 at the Basic Proficiency.

The overall performance of candidates taking the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) has improved in 2007.

In 19 of the 44 Units examined, over 90 percent of the Unit entries achieved Grades I to V, which are the acceptable grades at this level.

The Department of Public Administration has just completed a two-day Induction Programme, for new and continuing teachers of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School and the six Primary Schools.

A large number of new students, who have commenced their secondary education in Form 1 at Campus B, at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, underwent an orientation session on Friday, August 31.

A two-week workshop for teachers in Anguilla opened at Campus B on Monday, July 16. It is focusing on four subject areas: classroom management, English as a second language, Information Technology and ‘Make and Take.’

On Wednesday June 20th, eighty five students were at Chandeliers for the Annual School Leavers Seminar. The seminar is an event sponsored by the Labour Department of the Government of Anguilla. The speaker was Miss Merlyn Rogers, who spoke passionately to the students about living well, meeting life head on and when confronted with challenges, see them as unlimited possibilities. She said graduates should seek to improve themselves whether abroad or at home. She advised students that, “employers still value employees who are skilled, those who embody honesty, integrity, team spirit, good work ethics and quality customer service.”

Ms. Shadea Richardson, a grade six student of the Stoney Ground Primary School, has received a scholarship from the Caribbean Students Organization Alumni Association based in Dallas, Texas. The scholarship is for the purchase of textbooks for the up coming school year. Shadea and her mother, Ms. Browne, have expressed their sincere gratitude for the kind gesture demonstrated by the Caribbean Students Organization Alumni Association. Ms. Browne said the award will aid in getting her daughter ready for Junior High School.

A number of foreign students attending the primary schools in Anguilla, having difficulty learning the English Language, are benefiting from a quantity of materials presented by the Governor’s Office to the Education Department.

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Education Reform Unit is holding a series of workshops in the sub-region looking at the teaching of Mathematics in forms one, two and three of secondary schools.

The schools in Anguilla observed Commonwealth Day on Monday, March 12, with special indoor and outdoor classroom activities.

Teachers Olive Jacobs and Janice Hodge were the honoured guests at the Special Needs Teachers’ Appreciation Dinner held at the Overlook Restaurant in South Hill on Saturday last. Ms. Jacobs and Teacher Janice were awarded by their fellow teachers for their charisma and exemplary work in the area of Special Education.

Literacy Hour in the primary schools is not just about the usual subjects like maths and information technology but covers a range of other matters.

Parents, teachers and other adults have been told that there is nothing more rewarding that an investment in the development of the children of Anguilla.

Monday, 26th February 2007- Saturday, 3rd March 2007
Theme: Educating Students for Success in a Changing World

By: Mrs. Carol Webster
Special Educational Needs Teacher at the Stoney Ground Primary School

I would like to take this opportunity to tell you about children with severe learning disabilities. They are really no different from anyone else. It’s just that their approach to learning is different. Special Needs children are unique and are capable of doing the same things that you do, just at a slower pace.

His Excellency The Governor, Mr. Andrew George, visited The Anguillian on Tuesday, January 23, as part of his continuing familiarisation tours to a number of places and offices in Anguilla.

This marks the final week of the Cable & Wireless bsmart competition, and schools around the island are eagerly awaiting the announcement of the winning school.