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'There's this feeling that going to school is not fun'- Hon de Castro

'There's this feeling that going to school is not fun'- Hon de Castro

Recognising that schools may have become 'boring; for today's smartphone and app-conscious youth, Minister for Education and Sports, Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL) says the Virgin Islands (VI) education system will now be pushing STEAM learning, a tools based umbrella term for more focus on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics into the school curriculum.

Speaking on the September 28, 2022, edition of 'Public Eye', a show aired on the Facebook page of the Government Information Services (GIS), the minister said that children learn by doing and as such, a more hands-on, group collaboration approach to education will be adopted.

Change in approach to teaching & learning


"I believe the project-based type of learning that we are seeking to engage in the curriculum from all levels, the primary and secondary... it creates an opportunity for us to change the way that we teach to fit the learning styles of our children," she said.

"Most of our children, when you really look at it, there is this feeling that going to school is boring, that it's not exciting and it's not fun... and I believe it's because of the reality of engagement, how do you engage? How do you use the very things that they are interested in?" she questioned.

Hon de Castro said an approach like that would then become a force to build interest as in the case of children being users of apps; however, the education system can start to explore how to move children from being users of apps, to becoming creators

Education Minister Hon Sharie B. de Castro said in the VI, the education system can start teaching the aforementioned skills in school, however, there are blocks that must be first built to progressively move to the point of being able to effectively teach in key areas of S.T.E.A.M with the new approach.


Teachers have welcomed the idea - Hon de Castro


She said in the VI, the education system can start teaching those skills in school; however, there are blocks that must be first built to progressively move to the point of being able to teach key areas of STEAM with the new approach.

Meanwhile, the Minister said the idea has already been welcomed and encouraged by teachers since it facilitates a type of learning that meets the target of education.

Hon de Castro added that traditional pen and paper learning will not work for STEAM which will require more resources and as such the ministry has made a commitment to making the financial resources available to ensure tools are available for both teachings and learning in the area.

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