National Consultation on the Primary School Curriculum

Message from the Minister of Education
Dr. the Honourable Tim Gopeesingh

Dear citizens of Trinidad and Tobago,

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago is guided by the principle that the highest mission of society is the development of its citizens and we are committed to promote a process of people-centred development.

The Ministry of Education has been identified as one of the champions for contributing to human development and more specifically to Pillar One of the National Framework for Sustainable Development which includes the element “Building the foundation for an intelligent nation and a creative economy”.

In this context we are about to embark on a revision of the primary school curriculum to ensure that it meets the needs of development in a modern society, and that there is articulation with the early childhood and secondary school curricula to promote a seamless transition through the school system.

The curriculum must be based on an understanding of the norms and values of our society and grounded in the lives our communities. I am therefore inviting all stakeholders in education to participate in the curriculum decision making process through a NATIONAL CONSULTATION ON THE PRIMARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM.

You may make your input through one or more of the following three ways:

1. Attend the National Consultation to be held at the Cascadia Hotel and Conference Centre #67 Ariapita Road, St. Ann’s on April 5th-6th, 2011. Registration is now closed.

2. Submit written comments to the Ministry of Education by e-mail: curriculum.moe@gov.tt or curriculum.moegov@gmail.com Please note that these files should not be more than 5 mega bytes (MB), and in the format Microsoft Word, PowerPoint or as an Adobe PDF File.

The Ministry of Education is also requesting  that Stakeholders and members of the public are also invited to submit papers on:
        a) Education for Sustainable Development
        b) Comparative Religion or Teaching About Religion in Schools

           Please send these documents by email to curriculum.moe@gov.tt or curriculum.moegov@gmail.com

3.   Visit the Ministry of Education website as well as the facebook Consultation page created for this event.

Information gleaned from this consultation will be applied to the development of goals, content and methodologies that support the outcome of graduates who are world citizens, with a sense of national identity, an appreciation of their Caribbean heritage and an opportunity to become a meaningful global citizen.

I urge you to seize this opportunity to contribute to the education of our young citizens and I look forward to your participation in this important event.

Tim Gopeesingh MBBS, CMT
Minister of Education

The Primary School Curriculum

In the last decade, the primary curriculum sought to place emphasis on learning experiences that are developmentally appropriate and reflect new understandings about effective delivery and assessment. Renewed efforts have been made to institute promotion by attainment rather than by age and class. Limited attempts have also been made to establish greater articulation between the primary and secondary levels of the curriculum.

Click Here to view Listing of Primary School Curriculum Summaries and Subjects.