By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE Ministry of Education is again encouraging citizens to have a look at the list of Cabinet-approved interventions aimed at increasing student achievement and equity of educational opportunity in schools.
The ministry in a media statement on Tuesday, reminded the population that in July 2022, it had issued the interventions with focus on 26 secondary schools.
Those measures included a focus on ensuring technical and vocational education and training (TVET) subjects that are being offered from Form 1.
Implementation began from September 2022 and are ongoing the ministry stated.
The strategic interventions were further expanded to include 80 primary schools in November 2022, and implementation has also begun.
Details were again shared with the public via media conference on January 30, 2023.
The document entitled “Re-engaging for Success” targeted to assist the most vulnerable pupils is on the ministry’s website at https://www.moe.gov.tt/policy-
The ministry stated, “The Ministry of National Security (MNS) has also been working closely with the MOE’s Student Support Services Division (SSSD) to address student truancy. The standard process involves outreach to parents by teachers, then the SSSD. When these attempts fail, the MNS, through the TTPS, is engaged to locate these families and return the children to school.”
The Education Ministry stated that information regarding pupils who are repeatedly exhibiting school indiscipline has also been shared with the MNS, Ministry of Youth Development and Ministry of Social Development and Family Services, in an effort to have them join in the effort to support the pupils and their families.
“This is currently the subject of a targeted task force from the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service. These students, however, remain a part of the school system, and continue to receive the support of the SSSD staff at their schools,” the ministry stated.
On Monday, Member of Parliament for Tabaquite Anita Haynes questioned the Education Ministry on its strategies to assist school dropouts as she said many who left school did so to make ends meet.
