Moves apace to introduce primary level robotics this year – Education Ministry

Jan 17, 2019 News

The local education system has been continuously working to incorporate robotics at all levels. This is important since robotics is seen as crucial to help develop the scientific thinking of children within the school system.
With scientific thinking it is expected that the intended targets will be better able to understand the applications in daily life through every day experiences in the environment.
Robotics is an interdisciplinary branch of engineering and science that include: mechanical, electronic and information engineering, computer science and others.
It is therefore said to deal with the design, construction, operation and use of robots as well as computer systems for their control, sensory feedback and information processing. Such technologies are used to develop machines that can substitute for humans and replicate human actions.
Already such tactics have been introduced at the secondary and other levels of the local education system but strategic measures have been put in place to incorporate robotics at even the primary level.
At least this is according to Assistant Chief Education Officer [Primary], Ms. Carol Ann Benn. She disclosed, yesterday, that the Ministry of Education will be introducing robotics at the Primary Level this very year and it is the sector’s intention that this tool will be used to deliver quality education to the nation’s children.

Assistant Chief Education Officer [Primary], Ms. Carol Ann Benn.

Benn said that over the years pupils have been improving gradually in this area, and this is because of the various interventions employed by the Education Ministry. “But we will not stop here.
“In this technological age, while we have been using the radio and television, we see the need to venture into new and more modern ways of teaching,” Benn explained while sharing the rationale behind introducing robotics in schools and even at the primary level.
She stated that the Education Ministry in its continued effort to promote the quality of education and promote STEAM [Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics] while contributing to a green economy has decided to introduce robotics in the primary schools. “Robotics will empower our pupils to make wise choices, develop their problem solving skills where they will be able to think and act quickly in different situations, develop deep critical thinking and concretize learning while building skills in navigating successfully through STEAM,” she informed.
According to Benn, too, by introducing robotics early in the education curriculum, students can also build interest in this field and nurture their talents. She went on to note that the initiative will be piloted with the Grade Four pupils across the country this year and revealed that Grade Four teachers will be trained before the rollout of the programme.
With the introduction of the robotics programme at the primary level, Benn is convinced that pupils are poised to benefit in a number of ways.
“This programme will help to build our pupils’ leadership qualities, increase their creativity, promote inclusivity, encourage teamwork, enhance their soft skills, teach our pupils self-control and prepare them for the future,” the Assistant CEO theorised.

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