A newly formed committee has recently been put in place to revise the 1986 edition of the social studies primary school textbook ‘Anguilla Our Island.’
During a press conference on August 11, at the Department of Youth & Culture, Director Mr. Ben Romney introduced the members of the new committee and shared his views on the project’s initiative. “I think it’s a prefect vehicle for us to pass on – a lot of our culture or general way of life and a standard of who we are and where we came from.” And “to help develop within our young persons an appreciation for their heritage,” he added.
In terms of funding the project, Mr. Romney acknowledged that the Government of Anguilla has allocated $100,000. Also the Department of Education has endorsed the project and will be providing an additional funding of $30,000.
Mr. Romney further went on to say that, even though they are trying to revise the text, they are also creating a repository of knowledge about Anguilla’s heritage in a number of formats. These formats may include: a website with audiovisual materials to support the textbook. Also, within the website, they hope to create a visual timeline of Anguilla’s history starting from our Amerindian heritage. In addition to the textbook, they plan to provide teaching material to support questions, activities and lesson plans.
He noted content and textbook will also be provided to secondary students and adult learners. He continued: “Most of the text will be in colour
and in a format that is more user-friendly to young learners.” They will also be producing a digital copy of the text.
Mr. Romney also mentioned the production of two spinoff projects they hope to achieve; the creation of a database of cultural assets in Anguilla and a library of audiovisual material on culture in Anguilla.
Despite the other planned spinoffs of the project, Mr. Romney emphasized that “the committee’s focus is on the written text, getting the material together and determining the scope of the text and the material that’s relevant,…while coming up with a creative way of ensuring that after doing all this work, it is not outdated in a couple years.”
The project revision committee comprises: Chairperson, Ms. Farah Mukhida; Deputy Chairperson & Curriculum Specialist, Ms. Sandra Fahie; Lead Researcher, Ms. Clarissa Lloyd; Teaching Practitioner (Primary), Ms. Electra Carty-Buddle; Teaching Practitioner (secondary), Mrs. Ingrid Lake; and Internal Editor , Ms. Maris Edwards. Culture officer responsible for the project is Ms. Avon Carty, who is working very closely with the committee.
Speaking on behalf of the Department of Education, Ms. Sandra Fahie said, “the project is one that we welcome and are well on board with.”
Permanent Secretary Chanelle Petty-Barrett, in attendance, commended the efforts of the Departments of Youth & Culture and Education for collaborating on this project. “It is indeed long overdue and it does fill a need…It is particularly important to have this resource that is more child friendly and, giving the scope we anticipate the project will have, would most likely be interactive, which will appeal to the students,” She observed.
PS Barrett continued: “I see the tremendous benefits that it will have for the system for both our students and teachers, as it will make their jobs a lot easier.” She concluded that the Ministry of Education, along with the Minister of Education, Mr. Evans McNiel Rogers, were in full support of this project and looked forward to its completion.
The project is estimated to take two years and should be completed by 2018.
Mr. Romney also expressed thanks to all the members of the committee who agreed to work on the project.
