INFORMATION FOR EDUCATION, NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

St. George’s, Grenada, February 4, 2010 (GIS) – Junior Information Minister, Senator Arley Gill, has said that the new educational development thrust of the Grenada Government will involve greater use of the state-owned television network, GIS, for learning.

In keeping with the government’s plan, GIS will be televising two special documentaries each month as part of its “Global Village Learning’’ series.  Two documentaries in the series, “The Great British Black Invasion’’ and “Calypso Dreams,’’ have been shown on GIS TV to rave reviews, Sen. Gill said.

“In 2010, that educational effort will be intensified and educational programming will target primary, secondary and tertiary students,’’ said Mr. Gill, who is also Minister of State with responsibility for Culture.

“We want to make a seismic shift in the programming of GIS, moving towards information for education and information for national development.  That’s the vision.’’

The Government Information Service had intended to televise one documentary each month but public demand has forced management to move it to two.

The next show in the series is this Sunday, February 7, 3 PM, and it’s titled: “Amerindians in Grenada.’’  The documentary – a historical look at Grenada – was jointly produced by the Grenada National Trust, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation and the United States Ambassadorial Fund.

There is a determination by government to utilise the GIS for teaching and learning, Sen. Gill said.  “There is no reason why students preparing for Common Entrance examinations cannot sit in front of GIS Television and have a tutor on TV assisting them in their work of preparing for the Common Entrance,’’ he explained.

The Senator added that the same argument could be made for students preparing for CXC exams or seeking language tutoring. “There is no reason why a Spanish or French teacher cannot have a program once or twice a week teaching the language. GIS could also be an excellent medium to facilitate programming in pronunciation,’’ Sen. Gill said.

Among the educational documentaries to be televised on GIS the rest of this year – the first and third Sundays of each month at 3 PM – are “St. Louis Blues,’’ “China Encyclopedia,’’ ‘Black Wall Street,’’ “The Roots of Japanese Anime,’’ and “Jamaica for Sale.’’ Others include “Hutch,’’ “Cockpit Country,’’ “Wright Brothers’’ and “Good Bye Uncle Tom.’’