(EMU), St. Kitts, July 13, 2018 -- “Teachers are the heartbeat of the nation,” declared Mr. Darryll Lloyd, Deputy Chief Education Officer, at the opening ceremony for the 2018 Pre-Service Training Workshop, held at the Bird Rock Beach Hotel, on Monday 9th July.
The Ministry of Education (MoE) has given priority to building a quality teaching force, one that is well trained and committed to the profession. Prior to sending teachers into the classrooms, the MoE provides them with teacher education and training for two-weeks during the summer and a mandatory one year of in-service training once employed.
“The primary objective of the pre-service training is to provide our perspective teachers with an understanding of the basic tools that will help them function effectively in the classroom,” advised Mr. Lloyd.
The training will involve the integration of different teaching perspectives and skills, ensuring that the teachers are competent and professional. These include, but are not limited to, keeping accurate records, the teacher and the law, civil service rules and regulations as well as classroom discipline.
Speaking to the prospective teachers the Minister of Education, Hon. Shawn Richards, stated his firm belief that the teaching profession is valued in the society and the Ministry will provide the support. “We want a professional teaching staff, a teaching staff where there are standards which you are held to, and we want you to be a part of developing those standards.” He continued, “You must be part of the consultation process and we will endeavour to ensure that you are consulted when it comes to those particular standards.”
The Minister also revealed to the audience that the Ministry is currently working on plans for advancing the education sector, as outlined in the Education Sector Plan 2017-2021. “The Advanced Vocational Education Centre (AVEC) will be the centre for our educational vocation training; we are working towards the amalgamation of AVEC, Project Strong and the Youth Skills Training Program, into one institution, to provide vocational education training.”
Other plans include further developing technology in education within the curriculum, a curriculum review, which may include more subjects being offered at the primary level.
It is expected that this new cohort of prospective teachers, will contribute to innovative ways of engaging students in learning, and harness the necessary skills and knowledge early in their careers from this well-structured pre-service, induction programme. As the Minister stated, “Prospective teachers, try to understand the purpose of you being here, as you go through this training try and cultivate the attitudes that will impact the entire education system.”
The two-week pre-service training programme runs from 9th – 20th July daily at the Advanced Vocational Education Centre. At the end of the programme the Ministry of Education will select the top performers to be placed within the Education system, where needed.
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