Guyana will begin rolling out a new moral and civics education curriculum in schools this month. This follows calls from community and religious groups for stronger values-based teaching.
During an Interview on Starting Point, Minister of Education, Sonia Parag said the programme will be taught as standalone subjects at the nursery, primary and secondary levels, rather than being embedded within existing courses. The subjects have already been placed on school timetables after months of curriculum development by the Ministry of Education.
“We don’t just want it to be a component. We want it to be taught as a standalone, as a separate subject because it deserves that sort of importance,” Parag said.
At the nursery level, the curriculum will focus on patriotism, national identity and basic civic conduct, including proper behaviour during the national anthem and familiarity with national songs. Primary and secondary students will be taught about civic duties, law and order, and democratic principles, including the fragility of democracy and the role citizens play in safeguarding it.
Older students will also learn how civic responsibility connects to leadership and decision-making within their communities, the minister said.
Moral education, Parag added, will emphasize values such as kindness, cooperation and teamwork, with a focus on shaping behaviour rather than rote learning. “It’s not about writing a paragraph on a blackboard and asking children to repeat it,” she said, noting that moral education should influence how students act in everyday life.
Some months ago, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo told the media that the initiative was shaped by feedback from communities across the country, including religious organisations, calling for structured efforts to promote shared values and social cohesion.
The curriculum was formally added to school schedules and will be taught during morning sessions.
