The Benab Foundation's primary program is:
The Cognitive Initiative
English and Mathematics have for some time been problematic subject areas for Guyana’s Secondary High Schools, with a national pass rate in both subjects hovering consistently well below 50%. On the other hand, students from the “top” schools, such as Queen’s College or the Bishops High School, excel in these subject areas. Is t
here any way to link these two groups of students so that this success can be shared? The Cognitive Initiative is such a program, modelled after a successful initiative in India, in which well-performing students teach their less-fortunate peers. This showed impressive gains in learning for students in the program while, being volunteer driven, costs remained low. Further, as our volunteers are drawn from high schools, we host this program during the summer, when they are free to help. But The Cognitive Initiative has additional benefits as, according to the paper “Arresting the Summer Slide,” by Swarthmore College student Steve McFarlan, it could also address summer learning loss. This phenomenon, where low income students lose learning time over the summer because their higher income peers are comparatively engaged in more useful activities (like summer camps etc.), is responsible for much of the learning difference between both groups, and is relevant because many poorly performing schools in Guyana are populated with low income students. Our summer program thus also serves as great way to combat this learning gap. There have been three editions of the Cognitive Initiative, improving hundreds of students’ algebra and grammar skills. More than that, however, we strive to help them recognize these fields as nothing more than communicate tools. Our students show sharp improvements in their scores and high knowledge retention rates by the end of the program and as a result we will continue to build out and expand it with each passing year. The Cognitive Initiative is a simple, cost effective program that is making strides toward improving education in Guyana for all. Yours,
Elson Browne-Low, CEO
Robo Matheson, CEO
