Let’s focus on the program’s impact in the most remote regions of the country and highlight 4 important takeaways.
1. Even with no digital access, learning can happen
In remote areas, it wasn’t possible to get families connected to digital learning, so the education ministry produced a variety of printed materials for students. These included worksheets and self-directed resources aligned to the curriculum, which were distributed weekly by teachers and ministry representatives to families.
The ministry of education took care to involve teachers from diverse backgrounds to create these learning tools and ensure they reflected Guyana’s diversity and were well-received by children and families, no matter their ethnicity.
It took time to get these resources ready, but once available, the printed materials helped ensure that learning could continue for ALL children in Guyana, and not just those with access to tablets or computers.
Teachers universally reported that they appreciated the worksheets, and considered them effective in supporting learners, mainly because of their alignment with the curriculum and their ease of access and use.
Children in grade 6, who needed extra support to prepare for their end-of-primary exam, received packages that included books tailored to their level, learning games, flashcards and other items. Families were very appreciative of these resources, especially since these children typically wouldn’t have had any book at home.