The Ministry of Education (MOE), is this week concluding the second instalment
of the Reading Summer camp, geared towards creating a love for and excitement
about reading among younger students.
Director of Education, Clare Browne, said the summer camp forms part of the
Summer Intervention for the early learners’ population. “The primary goal of the
Summer Reading Program is to get students excited about reading and writing.
Approximately 527 kindergarten to grade 3 students are registered for this camp
from 26 th June to July 14 th ,” he explained.
He said instructions will focus on key areas that support the reading process. These
are:
Phonological awareness
Phonics
Sight word knowledge
Comprehension strategies
Vocabulary
Written expression
He further explained that a Literacy Station Model is utilized as the foundation for
the operation of the camp. Literacy centers offer meaningful learning experiences
where students work independently or collaboratively to meet literacy goals. There
are six stations: Sound and Word Works, Sight Words, Reading, Writing,
Media/Technology and a Library Nook.
Practically all public primary schools are participating in the programme. These
schools are grouped into four Zones with one school in each of the Zones
designated as the centre.
On Friday, there will be an ‘Open Day’ from 9:30 am to 11:30 am, when members
of the public are invited to visit the schools to see what the children have learned
over the course of the summer camp.
Secondary Schools students attend Summer Camp too
The Summer School Programme is an initiative that has been offered since 2017 to
all Public Secondary Schools that are in the position to offer the programme based
on the availability of teachers to engage the students. The emphasis has always
been on promotion.
However, in 2021, the emphasis was on Curriculum Recovery for the 4 th Form
students, in preparation for CXC and/or Levels 3 and 4 students. This initiative for
Curriculum Recovery assisted in bridging the gap that existed due to the COVID-
19 pandemic. The teaching/learning engagements for most of these students were
negatively impacted from March 2020 to present. In 2022, the programme reverted
to its initial objective.
This year’s Summer School Programme, June 26 – July 17, will be undertaken by
seven (7) schools. They will capitalize on the opportunity to offer students who
missed the Promotion Criteria up to three subjects, to be promoted. Students, who
have been promoted can also attend for further reinforcement of concepts.
Provision has been made for students from schools that are not offering the
programme, to be attached to a school that is offering Summer School for
reinforcement purposes. The schools that are offering Summer School are the
Antigua Grammar School, Clare Hall Secondary School, Sir Novelle Richards
Academy, Pares Secondary School, Glanvilles Secondary School, Ottos
Comprehensive School and St. Mary’s Secondary School.
This year, special provision is made for the Level 4 students of the Ottos
Comprehensive School, Sir Novelle Richards Academy and All Saints Secondary
School, where they have been placed in the Learners Support Programme (LSP).
These students meet at All Saints Secondary School daily, from 8:00 am to 1:30
pm.
The LSP Summer School Programme seeks to take the students on a three-week
journey of exploration and discovery. The students will explore Antigua’s
rainforest, and beaches and will also take a virtual trip to outer space with the hope
that doors will be opened for them to discover various avenues of grasping topics
in numeracy and literacy. Students will engage in numeracy and literacy activities,
Science experiments, Social Studies field trips, Art and Craft, Computer Basics,
and Culinary Arts. As the central focus of the Summer School Programme, each
activity is geared toward improving students’ numeracy and literacy skills.
The Education Officers – Curriculum are very much involved in the programme.
They support the programme by visiting the schools and offering curriculum
guidance.
Three hundred and seventy-seven (377) students have capitalized on the
opportunity. From all indications, Summer School is running smoothly and the
students have expressed appreciation for the opportunity afforded. A student,
however, is only offered Summer School two (2) times during secondary school.
The Ministry of Education expresses its profound gratitude to the Board of
Education, the National School Meals and the Transport Board for partnering with
them to make the camp a reality.
