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| Education Department Holds Annual Orientation for Nevisian Teachers |
Charlestown Nevis (August 31, 2004) On the eve of a new school term, the Department of Education on Monday conducted the annual back to school exercise, under the theme “Partners in Education: Empowering and Inspiring Our Nation’s Youth – One Mind At A Time” at the Nevis Cultural Centre in Charlestown.
The symposium saw new faces, Permanent Secretary, Education Mr. Elvin Bailey and Principal Education Officer, Mrs. Jennifer Hodge, at the helm of the education unit as the Junior Minister with responsibilities for Education and Library Services, the Hon Livingston Herbert welcomed them as well as over two hundred teachers, ranging from the preschool level to tertiary level to the session.
In his brief remarks, he noted that the education department would be placing greater emphasis on reading during the school year and that the department would received the services of a Peace Corp, who is a reading diagnostician assisting in the area of identifying reading difficulties. He also noted that the Peace Corp would assist in developing strategies for implementation and the undertaking of training sessions for teachers along with the Reading Intervention Tutor at the department.
Minister Herbert expressed his pleasure in announcing that for the first time, 16 of Nevis’ teachers have been accepted at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant Teachers College, 10 teachers will be doing the BSc study on line, and 2 preschool teachers are off to Trinidad for training. About 11 teachers have completed their studies and returned to the fraternity.
Nevis’ Premier, the Hon Vance Amory called on the teachers to set good examples for the students as he addressed the gathering that included Permanent Secretary, Premier Ministry, Mrs. Venetta Hobson-Moving as well as Education Officers.
He said, “A young person learns more effectively from examples than from precept, so it is one of the issues that I want you to take more seriously this year. Those very young persons, not so young persons, the children, the adolescence whom we are seeking to teach, to train, to direct and guide are not only listening to what we are saying, they are observing and looking to see whether or not the examples we set could in fact be followed by them.”
Premier Amory said that the Nevis Island Government was prepared to provide the most cost effective support to the teachers and the schools, saying, “it entails the human resource, the technical support and also the moral and legal support which is required.”
In pointing out that, it was often said that the teachers or principals were not given the support of the government, when dealing with issues of discipline or an environment conducive to learning, the Nevisian Leader expressed his concern and sought to clear the air.
He said, “I wish to dispel that and to let it be known that we are prepared to abide by the provisions of the law in respect to what is said to ensure that the schools do not become bedlams and that our children know that they cannot bring the indiscipline which they want to develop in the communities into our schools.”
The featured speaker for the session was Dr Violet Jeffers, who tried to motivate the audience while the Permanent Secretary and the Principal Education Officer gave their debut remarks and a minute silence was observed for the Former Principal of the Prospect Primary School, Mr. Autnell Swanston. His replacement was announced during the proceedings.
Mrs. Hodge used the forum to express words of acknowledgement to those who commended and congratulated her to the post. She said that she was truly gratified and duly humbled by the vote of confidence that had been placed in her, but she hastened to add, “To God Be The Glory.”
School officially starts on September 6, 2004.
