While the Minister of Education, Youth, and Information, Fayval Williams, has boasted success in mainstreaming a seven-year programme of educational training and experience, her opposition counterpart Damion Crawford says it should be restructured to benefit the students.

In May this year, the Minister said a total of 24,245 students were enrolled in the Ministry of Education and Youth’s Sixth-Form Pathways Programme (SFPP) for the 2022/23 academic year, which is a 21 per cent increase.

Crawford believes that while the intention is to allow all students to have access to learning opportunities in grades 12 and 13 (sixth form) – more needs to be put in place to better their skills and abilities.

He told SLEEK news that the programme needs to be practical and that the education ministry must engage its stakeholders to negotiate a more impactful seven-year experience for students at the secondary level.

Last month, the Ministry highlighted the successes with more students entering the programme and the percentage of those obtaining passes however Crawford shared his views with SLEEK.

The programme was launched last year in October by Minister Williams.