The Ministry of Education is extending the Annai Secondary School to accommodate more students and will be equipping it with computers in January to commence the Information Technology (IT) programme.
Minister of Education Shaik Baksh made this announcement during a recent visit to the school in the remote Region Nine community, a press release from the ministry said. Baksh met with the teaching staff which comprised several voluntary overseas teachers, to listen to their concerns. The teachers said there is a need for more furniture, timely supply of fuel by the region and a pump capable of distributing water to all the buildings in the complex, among others. In response the minister said these matters will be brought to the attention of the region’s top officials. He then informed them that they will be trained to use the computer as a learning aid when the school starts its IT programme next year. The computer laboratory will also be installed with internet services, the release said.
The ministry also assigned Mathematics teachers to the school to reverse the poor performance in the subject at the recent Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate exams. The school had had a shortage of Maths teachers during the said period, the release said. The ministry will also be providing more DVDs with complete lessons in English and Mathematics at the CSEC level as well as a quantity of books to foster a culture of reading. In his address to the students, Baksh urged them to stay focused on their studies and to settle for nothing less than the best. He also urged them to “dream big dreams” as they are the future leaders of the country. The Annai school is located in a complex that houses dormitories for both boys and girls and currently accommodates 470 students. The dorms were recently upgraded and extended to cater for more students. According to the release, the ministry is also working to set up a Technical and Vocational Education Training centre in Lethem to provide various skills training to youth that will equip them with the skills to establish their own businesses and to lead disciplined and productive lives, the release said.
