New style specialist education on track to start in September
The first signature school programmes are on schedule to start in September, the education minister told the House of Assembly.
Diallo Rabain said financial technology, vet sciences, medical sciences and automotive technology will be among the subjects offered.
Mr Rabain said the subjects would fall under the four signatures announced last May – health and social care, financial and insurance services at The Berkeley Institute and trades and professions, and science, technology, engineering and maths at CedarBridge Academy.
Mr Rabain listed almost 20 “learning tracks” under the four “learning tracks”.
Health and social care: medical sciences and services, social sciences and services, holistic and allied health services; and general health and social care.
Trades and professions: automotive technology, carpentry, electrical, textiles and design, culinary arts and hospitality, cosmetology and horticulture.
Finance and insurance services: accountancy, Insurance – underwriting, brokering and risk management, banking and financial services, business administration and management and fintech.
Creative technologies: computer science, animal/vet sciences, engineering and environmental sciences.
Mr Rabain added that progress was being made on major changes to the way education was delivered.
He said the government was working with close to 50 teachers, school principals, members of the public and industry partners to create curricula for the signature programmes.
Mr Rabain added: “Credentials recognised by industry and internationally recognised will enable our students to enter universities both here and overseas.”
He said the signature school transformation teams had drawn up blueprints for how the programmes should engage with pupils.
Mr Rabain explained: “This has focused on what is taught in the classroom and how young people are taught, and how we recognise what young people know and can do.”
The team has since the start of the year focused on ensuring pupils can make informed decisions about which signature programmes to choose.
Mr Rabain said a “taster programme” was being designed for M2 and M3 pupils to give them an insight into the specialities available.
He added children would be “exposed to, explore and experience” elements of the signature learning programmes as early as primary school.
Mr Rabain said: “An essential outcome of this work will be that students, from an early age, will have their aspirations stretched about what’s possible beyond school. Students will begin to identify their skills, their passions and their interests.”
He added work continued to establish staffing needs and teacher professional learning requirements.
Mr Rabain said that there was “still room at the table” for interested people to get involved in the design and delivery of the programmes.
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