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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
The Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald, Minister of Education, Science and Technology is pictured (left) along with Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie at the official launch of the Bahamas Learning Channel. (BIS photo/Peter Ramsay)
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Nassau, The Bahamas -- The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in partnership with Cable Bahamas Limited and the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas officially launched the Bahamas Learning Channel (BLC) at the Performing Arts Centre of The College of The Bahamas, Tuesday, October 28.
BLC is a 24-hour channel, which features over 20 customised Bahamian made television programmes for primary, junior and senior high school students. The channel will highlight Bahamian students and educators and will embrace the slogan “education is in the click”.
The educational, informational and character focused programmes include GLAT Attack, Science Bowl, Mad Science, Tell Me a Story, Communicating with Hands, Once Upon A time, Character Commercials, Junka and Noo, Gary the Explorer, Vocabulous, Parent Talk, Did you Know, Spanish Classes, Educational Music Videos, Literacy Skills, I want to Be and Get Floored. The BLC team comprises Jevone Williams, executive producer; Jeron Williams, senior producer; Byron Thompson, senior editor and Andy Ferguson, production assistant.
The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie; the Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald, Minister of Education, Science and Technology; various Ministers and Senators; Donella Bodie, Permanent Secretary; senior government officials, school administrators, stakeholders, representatives of the Opposition, corporate sponsors, teachers and students.
Minister Fitzgerald described the launch as “unprecedented”. He said, “What we will now be able to accomplish, will catapult our education system into a new realm and our students will be the beneficiaries of out of the box thinking and the unorthodox delivery of instruction.”
He urged the audience to become ardent supporters of the multiple programmes and to inspire others to do the same.
“These are Bahamian shows with Bahamian students by Bahamian producers, filmmakers and editors, making the Bahamas Learning Channel an authentic Bahamian product that we should all be proud of,” he added.
Minister Fitzgerald acknowledged Alfred Sears, the visionary behind BLC; the Speaker of the House of Assembly, the Hon. Dr. Kendal Major, for granting permission for Channel 40, the Parliamentary Channel to be used to broadcast BLC programmes and the Hon. Hubert Chipman, of the Opposition, for providing bi-partisan support for the initiative.
The programmes appear from Monday to Friday: 5:30-6:00 p.m. and Saturday mornings on ZNS Channel 11; Channel 40: Monday-Saturday 7:00 a.m. to midnight and on Channel 12 on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday: 3:00-6:00 p.m.
Bahamas Learning Channel Important to Students throughout the Archipelago, says PM Christie
FULL REMARKS:
Communication by the Right Honourable Perry Christie, M.P., Prime Minister,
Commonwealth of The Bahamas in the House of Assembly on the Launch of The Bahamas Learning Channel Wednesday, 04 November 2015:
Mr. Speaker, I wish to share with this Honourable House the details of an event that I attended, hosted by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. In Minister Fitzgerald’s absence, I think it is most important that I speak to and highlight the launch of the Bahamas Learning Channel.
Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, 27th October, 2015 at the Performing Arts Centre at the College of The Bahamas, scores of people gathered to witness history in the making.
Mr. Speaker, an initiative that was started by Mr. Alfred Sears during his time as Minister of Education has evolved from its embryonic stage and is now full term. The Bahamas Learning Channel has grown from a few programmes being aired on Cable 12 and ZNS channel 11, to now having programmes aired on Channel 40 at particular times when the House and the Senate are not sitting or when pre-empted by any other special broadcast on the Parliamentary Channel.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank your goodself and your officials for allowing the Bahamas Learning Channel to have access to the Parliamentary Channel for the airing of their programmes. Commencing this past Monday, the 2nd of November, Mr. Speaker, a full slate of new programmes is now being aired on channel 40. Beginning at 9:00 a.m. daily Mr. Speaker, Bahamians across the archipelago can watch an array of educational programmes all geared to compliment traditional modes of instruction.
Mr. Speaker, in my remarks launching the learning channel I reflected on my own childhood and the challenges I faced in school and I felt a renewed sense of hope as I saw the multiplicity of programmes unveiled at the launch. What I have come to realize is that the Bahamas Learning Channel will certainly be one of the many strategies and methods of reaching students who are not traditional learners.
Mr. Speaker, The Bahamas Learning Channel is packaging education in a manner that draws in its viewer and while it is stimulating, it is also educational.
Mr. Speaker, it was brought to my attention that prior to approval being given by you, that you had the opportunity to preview the programmes that comprise the Bahamas Learning Channel. The programme offerings are very diverse and cater to a broad cross-section of viewers. To date approximately 17 shows have been produced. What intrigues me is the fact that the shows appeal to the young as well as the old; and adults as well as children can learn from what the Bahamas Learning Channel has produced. Additionally Mr. Speaker, I wish to commend the Official Opposition for their support of this most worthwhile initiative. I thank the Hon. Hubert Chipman, Member of Parliament for St. Anne’s for his kind words shared at that event. And although he was not present, the Hon. Member that ensured that he had a representative to deliver his remarks on his behalf.
Mr. Speaker, there was a clear act of bi-partisanship and speaks to the political maturity that is evidenced regarding the de-politicizing of education in our country. A Shared Vision for Education 2030 is certainly more than talk, it is being demonstrated. Mr. Chipman was also invited by the Minister of Education, the Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald to preview the Bahamas Learning Channel’s programmes and to officially endorse this on behalf of the Opposition.
Mr. Speaker, as we seek to build a “Stronger Bahamas”, we are depending on education to be one of the principle thrust of the tenets of a Modern Bahamas. Besides very captivating and animated programmes another facet of the Bahamas Learning Channel will be its virtual classroom. The virtual classroom will be an online learning environment that will allow optimal use of the technology of the INSPIRE project in which five million dollars was invested in the upgrade of computer labs and technology infrastructure in all of our junior and senior high schools throughout the country.
Mr, Speaker, just like a traditional classroom, a student in a virtual classroom will participate in synchronous (sink-ro-nus) instruction, which means that a teacher in Bimini will be able to provide instruction to students in Andros, Inagua, Ragged Island, Acklins, and Cat Island, or better yet, all islands at the same time.
Mr. Speaker, the virtual classroom will permit a teacher in one location to provide instruction to pupils in multiple locations and allow for dialogue not just between teacher and pupil but also among pupils. The virtual classroom will connect students across the archipelago and allow the interaction and interfacing of students who may never meet in person but can meet and learn at the same time in a virtual classroom.
Mr. Speaker, the Bahamas Learning Channel as well as the proposed virtual classroom, are unequivocally modern in concept, scope and outcomes and will revolutionize education in The Bahamas and afford all students equal opportunities.
Mr. Speaker, I think it is safe to assert that we are all very proud and fully endorse the work of all those involved in the Bahamas Learning Channel. Mr. Speaker, this channel comprises of talented, young Bahamians who are certainly creative, innovative and embrace the opportunity to think outside the box. I am optimistic that the future of our country is in good hands when I see what these young people have been able to accomplish.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to publicly acknowledge Messrs Jevone and Jeron Williams along with Mr. Byron Thompson. These individuals have been with the Bahamas Learning Channel since inception and have persevered in the midst of the many challenges faced by the Bahamas Learning Channel over the years. They have remained committed to this endeavour and they truly put on a magnificent show last week.
In closing Mr. Speaker, I wish the Bahamas Learning Channel every success and it is my hope that BLC will continue to develop quality programmes that will foster “Quality Education for Equitable Development.
Mr. Speaker, a Stronger Bahamas depends on our unified efforts to empower today’s students to become tomorrow’s leaders.
Thank you!
© Copyright 2015 by thebahamasweekly.com
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