Innovative Educational Platform Soon To Be A Reality

DIGITAL learning has become a growing trend amongst educators, adapting as best they can to this transition to remain relevant and resourceful amidst the hardships brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

An innovative platform has been launched to help improve access to education-related information online, on the island.

Consequently, an innovative platform geared to improve access to education-related information online, has been launched here.

According to government sources, the Education Platform Project was developed specifically for application within the realms of the ministry of education.

At a recent launch, the Ministry of Education unveiled a series of workshops that will introduce a new Educational Platform to teachers, as well as, being accessible to parents for the ability to be able to liaise and coordinate the educational development of the students.

The Educational Platform will provide online technical support to school administrators, teachers and students, via class presentations, student attendance, and managing and documenting report cards. Parents will also be able to monitor learning records and the performance of children thus promoting and providing more opportunity for inclusion and stakeholder engagement.

“If we are honest with ourselves we will acknowledge that effective data collection and information sharing from our schools is one of the least focused on activities in the Department of Education,” said Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Michelle Charles, as she addressed the gathering at the recent launch.

The permanent secretary noted that, this was “one of the most crucial components necessary for informed decision making within our sector.”

This latest initiative was brought to fruition through the collaborative efforts of the education department working alongside the Taiwanese Embassy.

“Our partnership with the Taiwanese government through the ICDF’s application for information and communication technology for educational development, provides us with yet another opportunity to address this shortcoming,” Charles added.

She explained that the education management systems at the island’s institutions focus primarily on ‘specific in-school indicators’ that allow for the basic of statistics to be developed.

However, Charles said, “it is envisaged that this education platform will be more integrated and allow for more data collection.”

She said the platform will help provide greater access for parents to get performance record of the students. “Students too, get to have their own needs reflected in the development of this platform as it will capture online learning courses that will incorporate the use of multi-media technology as well as online tests and assignments, ”asserted Charles.

The permanent secretary said teachers will also be provided with an additional avenue “for embracing technology for instruction. The platform will allow teachers to leverage synergies and make work more efficient as it eliminates duplication of efforts.”

Teachers are expected to develop new skills from this initiative, which will initially be applicable to seven ‘pilot schools’ for the project. Charles hopes the initiative will be successful and that the students will be able to share their knowledge with those that have not yet been impacted by the project.

Taiwanese Ambassador to Saint Lucia H.E Peter Chen, said every effort will be made to develop ICT application to the island’s education development prospects.

The ambassador urged participants that included teachers from various communities “to master and manage the use of education platform and by doing so we can accelerate the transition of schools in St Lucia to E-education.”

Chen said Taiwan has steadfastly supported projects geared towards the development of innovation, here. He cited projects such as ICT in education, and other related projects saying that “Taiwan will spare no effort to help the St Lucia government reach the stage of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

Also in attendance at the recent launch, at the National Skills Development Centre, were

Parliamentary Secretary Sen. Dr. Pauline Antoine-Prospere, other officials, teachers and the new wave of ICT inclusion in the education sector.

Persons behind the project are looking at early 2022 for island wide implementation. The Educational Platform Project is pioneered by the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Government of Saint Lucia.