Up Front
Minister Receives First LocalSocial Studies Books
Senior Education Officer (Curriculum)Herbert Crawford, Acting Chief Education Officer Nyda Flatley,Education Minister Hon. Roy Bodden, Permanent Secretary (Education)Joy Basdeo. Minister Bodden is holding the new locally designedsocial studies booklets for years one to three.
Education Minister Hon. Roy Bodden got apreview of the first locally designed textbooks produced for individualclasses on Wednesday, 22nd November.
Mr Bodden accepted the first three in a series of social studiesbooklets from Senior Education Officer (Curriculum) Herbert Crawfordat a brief presentation ceremony at the Education Ministry.
In a brief speech, Mr Crawford explained to the minister thatthe textbooks targeted students in years one to three. The senioreducation officer also praised the social studies curriculum team,consisting of past and present teachers as well as other communityrepresentatives, who had worked to develop the texts.
"Social Studies Advisor James Watler led a team of 18 personswho devoted their weekends and holidays to researching and puttingtogether material for the books. This was obviously a demandingand challenging task, and it is a significant achievement forthe Education Department," he said.
Chief Education Officer Nyda Flatley commented that the bookswill be made available to private schools and the public at acost of CI$ 7 each.
Minister Bodden congratulated the department on the books' colourfuldesign which include many photographs of Caymanian life. He alsothanked social studies team members, as well as United Kingdompublishers Macmillan, for contributing to the final product.
Members of the Social Studies curriculum committee and other EducationDepartment staff who helped to develop the books include JamesWatler, Dick Tressider, Vickie Frederick, Maxine Roberts, MarieMartin, Annie-Mae Seymour, Janilee Clifford, Ilene Dilbert, MarciaSarju, George Boldeau, Marge Quinland, Dell Ottey, Bernice Levy,Lynette Monteith, Heather McLaughlin, Marquiss McLaughlin, ShirleyKidd and Maria Bodden. Photos were contributed by Government InformationServices, the Department of Tourism, the National Trust and theNational Archive.
Textbooks for years four to six are expected to be in schoolsby the end of next year. Mr Crawford says other curriculum areasare also considering developing local texts as well.