Syllabus for compulsory Spanish classes in Primary schools now in place

Spanish is being taught in primary schools across the country in an effort to ensure Guyanese students are acquainted with the language and can become marketable in Spanish-speaking countries.

Guyana’s newfound resources and economic advancements have attracted an influx of Spanish speakers looking for work and residency.

As such, the government is considering ways of ensuring citizens are equipped with much-needed skills. These efforts will start at the classroom commencing this school term, Education Minister Priya Manickchand said at the sidelines of an event at Queen’s College, Georgetown on Tuesday.

“What we did was the National Center of Educational Resources Development (NCERD) came up with particular things they want children to know and that is being sent out to the schools and primary trained teachers are trained for general subjects are going to be administering Spanish instructions in those classrooms.

“The intent is not to have everybody come out and write Spanish for CSEC and pass. It’s to make people conversational and au fait with the language,” the Education said.

President Dr Irfaan Ali first made the announcement of the Spanish language being introduced to schools in July. At the time he said the government could import teachers to ensure this happens.

Minister Manickchand, while giving an update on the progress of this venture, said that Mexico and Cuba are among the Spanish speaking countries that were engaged.

President Ali previously said there may be capacity at the secondary level for the subject to be taught to all students. But at the primary level, his desire is for students from Grade Four or Five to start taking classes.

On a national level, he is considering the creation of an online platform where citizens can learn Spanish.