Even before the announcement of this year’s Education Month theme, the Volunteer Youth Corps (VYC) Inc. has been making interventions in the education sector to ‘transform’ teaching techniques to suit modern classrooms.Since July 2012,Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale, the VYC, a non-profit organisation with focus on the development of the lives of young people,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping, has worked to enact a system in the classroom that embraces practical learning as opposed to conventional teaching.With this initiative sprung the Afterschool Interactive Math and Science Project. Following the completion of a successful run of the project’s one-year pilot in August, it was officially tabled to be integrated into the nation’s education system, with the Ministry of Education signaling its support.Sponsor Jaime Buitrago (left) and Chairperson of the VYC Board, Bonita Hunter, perform the cutting of the ceremonial ribbon, as St. John’s College student,Wholesale Jerseys, David Jeffrey, looks on.The Afterschool project was officially launched at the Regency Hotel, Hadfield Street, on Monday.According to Science Teacher Ronald Forde, the project’s aim was to “breathe life into Math and Science” and to deliver content in such a way that students are able to interact with learning materials and exercise their abilities.He said that this aim was seen as a means of stimulating renewed student interest in these subjects that they take on with fear; while making the process fun.As the name suggests, the project encompasses Mathematics and Science classroom sessions for Grades Nine and Ten that are held after school hours. So far, the sessions have been accommodating students from 11 Secondary Schools in Georgetown and are being held at two locations, the VYC Office, Durban Backlands and the St. John’s College.The one-hour sessions are held three afternoons per week and are facilitated by six teachers from the varying schools who had been recruited by VYC.VYC Trainer,Cheap Jerseys Online, Quincy Richards, said that even the teachers had partaken in training sessions designed to help them animate their teaching sessions so as to reach students. He said of utmost consequence was the need to direct teachers away from the traditional manner of teaching and to incorporate practical activities into the lessons of these vital subject areas.“It involves being practical more than anything else. The teachers were encouraged to try as much as possible to engage the students in the learning process; to get them highly involved,” Richards noted.Among the techniques that were encouraged was the use of projectors to demonstrate visually processes that may be difficult to comprehend.The Science Teacher, during his remarks, enlightened as to how the piece of machinery can effectively aid in the learning process.“Imagine students’ eyes fixed on a screen showing the entire Germination process. Imagine Physics topics – Speed and Velocity – being taught through video sports such as car racing, and a cooking session being used to teach Measurement and Evaporation. This is what ‘Transforming Classrooms for the Twenty First Century’ means,” he said.Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO), Donna Chapman,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping, while underlining that the Ministry of Education supports the initiative,Cheap Wholesale Jerseys, urged that measures be taken so as to integrate other schools outside of the 11-school bracket into the project.She said that the initiative is especially timely since it focuses on two of the key Secondary School subjects, since they are critical in competing in the global market.“Guyana needs more Scientists and Mathematicians.”She reminded that all jobs and everyday life demand Science and Mathematics skills.“It is said that Mathematics helps students to develop analytical and critical thinking skills, the ability to reason in a logical way and the ability to recognize patters and apply them to situations.”Directing her remarks to the students, the DCEO advised that they make good use of the opportunity being presented to them. She urged that with the new approach being taken in the Science field, Guyana should see more participation in the Sagicor Science Competition in the coming years.(Tiffanne Ramphal)