Learning Centres provide continuity for students

George Town Primary School students at the Elmslie
Learning Centre.

Friday,  November 19, 2004

Many schools suffered substantial damage during Hurricane Ivan, preventing them from re-opening as promptly as anticipated. Intense efforts have been underway to get both private and government schools up and running as quickly as possible. 

A number of initiatives have been established to ensure that pupils will not have to repeat this year of studies, including a plan to extend the school year, once schools are open.

At George Hicks “revolving” days will occur until the new year whereby different year groups attend on different days, getting round the problem of a diminished number of available class rooms. 

As a short-term solution for students at Government schools, Learning Centres have been established to help provide a sense of structure and continuity for students. They have been set up in district Civic Centres or in the schools themselves throughout Grand Cayman, and are a means of providing students with the opportunity to develop skills in a range of subjects.

Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Education, Mrs Joy Basdeo, explained: “The Learning Centres have basic guidelines but they also encourage flexibility, depending on the needs of the school and the number of students.”

Centres follow an adapted curriculum prepared by the Education Department and receive teacher guidance, resource material and replacement texts, if required. 

Timetables include a range of creative activities within topics such as Art, Music and PE, while Information Technology (IT) will continue to be an important part of the curriculum, despite losing a number of computers during the storm. 

The Education Department and the Schools’ Inspectorate have assigned Link Officers. Along with providing support and advice to principals, they will play a key role in the establishment and monitoring of Learning Centres.

Students are taught in their regular classes or groups where student numbers, teachers and facilities allow, but where numbers are low, classes or groups may be combined. In such instances, teachers that are normally assigned to the classes will work together to team teach, ensuring that students’ individual needs are met. 

The Government estimates that around 50 percent of children attending Government schools are currently off-island. As children who went abroad after the storm return to Cayman they will be able to attend the Learning Centres, as long as there is enough room. 

Where necessary, teachers will be temporarily redeployed to other schools. On Cayman Brac, where the first Learning Centres were opened after the storm essentially to house the overspill of students who fled to the Brac after Ivan, the Centres were attended and staffed by a number of students and teachers from Grand Cayman.

Respective principals will decide, based on the size of their alternate location, on the maximum intake of each learning centre. Full-time registered students of each school will be given priority. 

Learning Centres are administered in accordance with a number of additional guidelines, including non-compulsory attendance (but a register will be maintained with data including students’ dates of birth and parental contacts) and the expectation that parents maintain the same relationship with the Learning Centres as with regular school. Visits to the centres should be made by contacting the principal. 

School uniforms are not a requirement of the centres, but regular school uniforms or suitable, sensible clothing is recommended. 

Homework is not compulsory for short-term programmes but useful projects may be prescribed for long-term programmes.

Transportation and lunches are arranged through the school principal.

During this transition period, as everyone adjusts to this new structure of schooling, staff are encouraged to be sensitive to the needs of their students. It is also recommended that principals make provisions during initial weeks for students and staff to discuss their experiences.

A clear emphasis should be placed on moving forward, as opposed to encouraging students to relive their hurricane experiences. Dr Jerome Brodlie is a visiting child psychologist and is assisting teachers with the counseling of students post Ivan. 

Mrs Basdeo concluded: “Every provision is being made for schools to return to normal as soon as possible. In the meantime, the operation of Learning Centres should reassure parents that their children are in a safe and productive educational environment.”

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