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Jan 7, 2019

M.O.E. & Pathlight International Sign M.O.U.

Today, the Ministry of Education and Pathlight International signed a memorandum of understanding solidifying their collaboration. Over the years, the ministry and Pathlight have embarked on a number of projects to improve teaching skills and empower students to read and write. The extent of the partnership also sees Pathlight working directly with management of schools to strengthen the education offerings at institutions. A brief ceremony was held to put the M.O.U. in black and white. News Five’s Andrea Polanco tells us how teachers and students will continue to benefit from this partnership.

 

Andrea Polanco, Reporting

The Ministry of Education and Pathlight International signed a memorandum of understanding to formalize their working relationship. For the past few years, the two entities have been working to improve how teachers deliver lessons so that students learn to read and write. They do this through workshops for teachers, literacy projects for students, as well as a number of different collaborative initiatives.

 

Roger Dermody

Dr. Roger Dermody, C.E.O., Pathlight International

“It is kind of solidifying our relationship and helping us to work together more strategically.”

 

Andrea Polanco

“What does the M.O.U. provide for in terms of working together?”

 

Dr. Roger Dermody

“Coordination. It also helps us for school improvement plans. We also work in collaboration with them to make sure these schools are achieving their goals. We have also been eager and excited to take part in the literacy initiative; reading interventions; assessments of where schools are at and how to help improve those in coordination with the Ministry. Some of the professional development that they do, we participate in that as well.”

 

And this contribution is not lost on the Ministry of Education.

 

Carol Babb

Dr. Carol Babb, Chief Education Officer

“They’re really assisting us because we have three hundred schools; fifty-six secondary schools and we do have some limitations. So, we are extremely grateful to them for providing the support that they are providing. This formalization of this agreement is important so that there is no duplication. Roger and I speak a lot so we are aware that our big initiative, our big project is to ensure that all children, in all of our primary schools are reading at standard one level.”

 

Pathlight International and the Ministry of Education have been partnering for over five years. They say that they’ve seen a marked difference among teachers and students who have participated in Pathlight’s workshops and projects.

 

Dr. Roger Dermody

“We are seeing some of the results in the teachers – better teachers, better students, better quality schools and outcomes for the students. Some of the interventions we have done with literacy, we have seen about two and half year increase in literacy after only a nine week intervention. Doing this with the Ministry helps us to be more effective in what we are doing for on behalf of the teachers and the schools.”

 

Dr. Carol Babb

“I see teachers have acquired more ideas and knowledge on student-centered learning. I have spoken to some teachers and they are excited after having attended the Pathlight workshops. The workshops have motivated them to create more child-centered classrooms and that is an exciting way and the way to go in teaching.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I’m Andrea Polanco.


Viewers please note: This Internet newscast is a verbatim transcript of our evening television newscast. Where speakers use Kriol, we attempt to faithfully reproduce the quotes using a standard spelling system.

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