Diagnostic centre for each parish
Published:Wednesday | October 24, 2018 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I use this medium to echo the voices of Dr Ashburn Pinnock
and Minister Floyd Green, respectively. "A diagnostic centre should be placed in each parish and that teacher leaving teachers' colleges should be able to at least identify our children who are in need of special intervention."
Several years ago, the Point Hill Diagnostic Reading Centre, a non-governmental organisation, attempted to address children with learning challenges in the Point Hill community and its environs. The centre sought funding from corporate Jamaica and other stakeholders. Funds were used to finance formal assessment and intervention classes. Based on recommendations, some students did vision and hearing testing. Many of the students showed an increment of at least one or two grade level improvement. Often, the centre had four or five, who would move two or more grade levels in a year.
The diagnostic centre also hosted reading workshops with the teachers from schools in the immediate community, as well as parenting workshops. Literacy classes were held with struggling readers from neighbouring schools.
If this could be done at the community level, imagine what can be achieved if state-funded centres are placed in each parish and more emphasis is placed
on equipping teachers to identify children with learning challenges.
Olga M. Morgan