According to GDF Chief-of-Staff Commodore Gary Best, the programme will be executed at the remedial, foundation and CXC levels and will be delivered through the distance education format. It aims to augment the education ministry and other agencies’ efforts to enhance the academic skills of youths, according to the Government Information Agency (GINA).
In his address at the programme’s launch, Best said it is a fulfilment of the force’s pledge to support the education of youths, and it authenticates a commitment made by President Bharrat Jagdeo to boost soldiers’ academic statuses.
He also emphasised the programme’s importance saying a soldier’s promotion and other forms of upward mobility will be conditioned on the successful completion of the requisite promotional examinations, which, itself would require successful completion of the programme.
The five-week remedial aspect targets applicants who failed the GDF’s entrance examination. It is an instructional programme aimed at recognising and correcting shortcomings in reading, writing and mathematics.
The foundation level is designed to boost academic performance, paving the way for the final level, Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examination (CXC) which is equivalent to the secondary schools’ curriculum from forms one to five.
At this level ranks will be given the opportunity to pursue CXC and higher education. English Language, English Literature, Mathe-matics, Physical Education, Spanish, Integrated Science and Social Studies are included at this level.
