CASTRIES, St Lucia — A delegation of 15 student-teachers from Martinique and Guadeloupe successfully completed a two-week immersion programme as part of the INTERREG “Linguistic Exchanges and Innovative Learning through Mobility” (ELAN) project.
The group of future education professionals, from the University of the Antilles and the “Ecole Supérieure du Professorat et de l’ Éducation (ESPE)” (Higher School for Teachers and Education) of Martinique and Guadeloupe, welcomed the two-week immersion in Saint Lucia which enabled them to meet teachers from multiple schools and to attend classes as observers.
The student-teachers also attended classes at the Alliance française of Saint Lucia and Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. The participants concluded the immersion programme with an official visit to the headquarters of the OECS where they had a meeting with the team from the Education Development Management Unit of the Organisation (EMDU).
EDMU reading specialist Lisa Sargusingh-Terrance presented the projects which are currently implemented by the Organisation, and the challenges encountered in the area of education in Saint Lucia and the other OECS Member States.
The meeting ended with a presentation on the observation period completed by the students in the Saint Lucian schools. The young professionals showcased a comparative analysis between the local education system and the standards of Martinique and Guadeloupe.
Student teachers Noémï-Marine Gaddarkhan and Goulwen Royer were honoured to participate in the immersion programme in Saint Lucia.
“We have been very well received in the schools, the Alliance française, Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and the OECS. I am happy to return to Guadeloupe after having met other education professionals. This experience enabled us to take a step back and compare educational practices and the standards of Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Saint-Lucia,” MBA student teacher at ESPE Guadeloupe, Noémï-Marine Gaddarkhan said.
“For two weeks, we have been able to observe educational practices in various subjects in the schools of Saint Lucia. Apart from the similarities and differences, we mostly kept the best pedagogical practices in mind. This immersion was an excellent experience and I encourage our colleagues to do the same,” Student at the University of Antilles, Goulwen Royer said.
Future groups of student teachers will benefit from the INTERREG ELAN project and will also complete a professional immersion in the course for the academic year 2020.
