VI History curriculum needs improvement - Wheatley
Co-host of the popular informative radio talk show, Umoja, Natalio Wheatley, along with host Cromwell Smith claim that the History curriculum that is currently being taught to secondary students in the Virgin Islands (VI) are based on a region rather than the prospective of a people or race.
Both hosts made these statements while conducting their show on May 31, 2012 on a local radio station.
Wheatley stated that the text book currently being used to teach Caribbean History is taught in such a way that it promotes the idea of black people being only slaves.
He added that the first mention of Black History in the schools is about slavery.
In relation to CXC being implemented in the VI, Wheatley stated that this could address and fix the problem of improving the History curriculum in schools in the VI.
However, he said he is concerned that if CXC is made compulsory, how much control the local Government would have over it and the exams.
In quoting the Minister for Education Hon. Myron Walwyn, Wheatley stated that the Minister said “there is a certain level of autonomy in terms of what you teach within the CXC curriculum”.
Host Mr. Smith told his audience that teachers should be able to teach History from the perspective and within the context of what is desired for them to be taught and to make sure that it remains within the criteria of CXC.
Students of the VI and the Caribbean on a whole have the right to be educated about the ‘Black’ race’s achievements and inventions, he said.
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