US Embassy visit to Saint Lucia highlights success of OECS/USAID Early Learners Programme!
By Sisera Simon Head, Education Development Management Unit, Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, OECS
Monday, February 17, 2020 — USAID representative to the Eastern and Southern Caribbean Clinton White met with students and teachers at the Bishop Charles Gachet RC Primary School on February 6 in Marchand to see firsthand the benefits of the OECS/USAID Early Learners Program (ELP), an $8.9 million initiative to improve the reading skills of primary grade children. Mr. White also discussed USAID funded programs with St. Lucian government officials and OECS Director General Didacus Jules.
Upon arrival at the Bishop Charles Gachet RC Primary School, Mr. White was treated to a special welcome by the Grade 1 students and observed a ‘read aloud’ session with two classes. Principal Cornelia Lubin welcomed Mr. White and detailed the training, in-school guidance, and support that she and the teachers have received through the ELP. Ms. Lubin explained how the ELP has fundamentally changed how they teach reading in the school and produced positive results for child literacy.
Chief Education Officer Fiona Mayer, also present for the visit, explained:
“Through the OECS/USAID funded programme, we have seen children more excited about reading. Their lives are being impacted and positive changes are taking place in the classroom. We are excited for how this will positively impact education and the citizens and the productivity of Saint Lucians in years to come”.
Mr. White said:
“Observing the interaction between the teachers and students, the effective delivery by the teachers, and the student engagement and enthusiasm towards learning and reading was very impressive. I am seeing the success of the OECS/USAID Early Learner’s Programme through teacher training and professional development, and that training is put into practice in the classroom and positively impacting the students. The fact that we can support this ELP reading programme and the various primary schools here in Saint Lucia and across the OECS is very important to the United States.”
About OECS/USAID ELP:
OECS/USAID Early Learners Programme is a Programme within the Education Development Management Unit of the OECS Commission and was established in March 2015 to improve the reading skills of children in the early primary grades with the goal of providing a foundation for improved learning outcomes and enhanced opportunities for students in the six (6) independent Member States of the OECS (Antigua and Barbuda, The Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines).
To date the ELP has achieved a number of tangible outputs with over 17,000 learners reached at the Primary level, over 1500 Grades K to 3 teachers supported through job embedded professional development, 1426 lessons observed and 1031 coaching sessions with teachers have been completed by ELP Coordinators. Further, 60 schools across the Member States have received development grants to support reading enhancement projects and 173,114 teaching and learning materials have been provided to 750 classrooms across the OECS. The OECS/USAID ELP will run through to September 2020 continuing to develop and implement impactful initiatives that advance early grade reading throughout the OECS.
