A new approach to Teaching in Jamaica

May 22, 2009 - PRLog -- In April 2009, the Villa Road Primary and Junior High School in Jamaica launched a pioneering awards programme aimed at improving reading, attendance, punctuality and discipline. The RAPD (Reading, Attendance, Punctuality and Discipline) scheme was developed after a needs assessment at the school highlighted that “students have the ability to succeed but lacked some of the necessary skills that impact their academic and social development”.

Projects Abroad volunteer, Rosalind Russell (pictured right) was instrumental in the development of the programme, and since its launch, three further Teaching volunteers have assisted the school with this project. Guidance Counsellor, Miss Diana Allen notes “RAPD has been beneficial to the school as there have been improvements in behaviour, reading and school attendance”.

She further explains that Projects Abroad volunteers have been very helpful with RAPD and states “in
class I have seen students on the edge of their seats eager to participate, these are students who do not generally participate in class”. Miss Allen adds that having volunteers from overseas helps to promote a rich cultural exchange and the exposure of students to different cultures helps to stimulate interest.

Although the scheme is still in its infancy, there have already been great successes. On January 29th there was a ‘Readers are Leaders’ Day, where local volunteers came in to read to students as well as students reading to stakeholders who came throughout the day. The first set of awards was presented to 36 students in February 2009. Each class selected the student who had improved the most in all four areas and students who had improved in one or more areas received recognition in the form of a scroll of honour placed on the notice board in their name.

For further details of our Teaching projects, please visit http://www.projects-abroad.co.uk/projects/teaching/

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Set up in 1992, Projects Abroad specialises in offering students and others a diverse range of projects and destinations throughout Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the South Pacific. Projects Abroad offers 80 different placements to 3,500 volunteers per year in areas such as Teaching, Conservation, Veterinary Medicine, Sport, Medicine, Journalism, Law and Human Rights, Care, Business and Community Development.