Education Minister Hazel Manning listens attentively to Martin Jones, Principal of the Corinth Teachers College, during a teachers seminar at the school yesterday. Photo: KRISHNA MAHARAJ

A proposal to license school teachers will soon be taken to Cabinet for approval, Education Minister Senator Hazel Manning has said.

 

The Minister said discussions and workshops are being held on several aspects of the development of the teaching staff but "the Ministry's position is that our teachers need to be licensed and retooled every five years".

 

Manning said a whole package on ways and means of modernising the teaching profession is being prepared by the Professional Development Unit (PDU) of the Ministry of Education, and when the details are completed the view of the stakeholders involved in education will be solicited.

 

"Nothing will be done until the matter is discussed with the stakeholders," said Manning.

 

Manning said several studies have been taking place for the past two years among the PDU staff and "they are coming to the end of their studies and very soon the matter will be taken to Cabinet".

 

Manning was speaking to reporters during an open session on plans for outreach and extension facilities at Corinth Teachers College.

 

Manning said the ministry is also planning to embark on a pre-service programme for teachers before they enter the nation's training colleges.

 

"The system would coincide with the anticipated decline by September next year in the number of people selected for admission to the training colleges," she said.

 

A proposal by a specialist in the field has been submitted in which it has recommended that "pre-service teachers will be prepared to serve as semi-specialists and remedial teachers."

 

Speaking about complaints by residents of Plum Mitan on the continued closure of the Biche High School and the problems pupils face in getting to other schools in the area, Manning said a meeting was held recently with the Public Transport Service Corporation and it was agreed that maxi taxis will be used to transport the affected children from their homes to the school.

 

Manning said the Biche school will remain closed while scientific tests are carried out by experts.

 

Arnie West, Programme Consultant, Secondary Education Modernisation Programme said yesterday that "ponds of water have been discovered under the school which could lead to eventual slippage".

 

West said the cracks on the walls are getting bigger and in keeping with the requirements of the recent Commission of Enquiry, "there will be continuous monitoring for one year to determine the level of geothermal activities".