Civics education paying dividends, says teacher

By Nakinskie Robinson    

 

A teacher from rural Jamaica says she has been seeing the benefits of resuming civics education in schools.

 

Teacher at Bellefield High School in Manchester, Melissa Daley, says she has noticed an improvement in soft skills among her students including grooming, deportment and social graces.

 

Mrs Daley says giving students the opportunity to see and meet their government leaders, provides a better understanding of how government operates and the impact on their lives.

 

"These students may not have gotten the chance to learn so much in civics because civics was not included at some point in time, but we've now reintroduced civics to the lessons and so the children are now able to see and get a feel of what is happening. So no longer can they just read about it but they can actually see these things in action. And so I think it will help the children understand and appreciate the importance of what it is to be a nation builder," she said. 

 

Mrs Daley was speaking with Radio Jamaica News following a recent meeting of the Manchester Municipal Corporation.

 

Earlier this year, Education Minister Fayval Williams stressed the importance of the need to reintroduce the teaching of civics education in schools as a way of helping to address some of the behavioural issues across educational institutions.