Teacher education, training reviewed

The education ministry on Wednesday hosted a one-day workshop to review teacher education and training, among other issues, in order to strengthen the Education Strategic Plan.

According to a press release from the Government Information Agency, Minister of Education Shaik Baksh declared the workshop open. He said an in-depth review of the sector is necessary in order to improve the quality of education being delivered.

Minister within the Ministry of Education Dr Desrey Fox and participants drawn from the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), the University of Guyana (UG) and experienced education managers also attended the session. The minister said the workshop aimed to assess the quality of teacher education and training; determine the number of teachers to be trained over the next five years at the nursery, primary, secondary and technical/vocation levels and the cost for such training. This will enable the ministry to decide on the institutional and administrative changes required to promote and sustain effective teacher education and training in Guyana.

The programme featured an overview of education and training, examining the number of teachers trained at the CPCE over the last five years by specialisation pre-service, in-service and distance modes; the number of teachers leaving the service over the last five years; the total and unit cost of teacher training at pre-service, in-service and distance modes; assessment of the numbers of teachers to be trained and the annual cost over the next five years: pre-service, in-service, distance mode and by specialisation.

Teacher education and training programmes at CPCE and in-service training centres which would include entry requirements, programme design, curriculum and quality assurance were also examined. This will also be done for UG as stronger linkages with CPCE are being forged.

Fox, in brief remarks, said the sector must ensure that it continues training so that the teachers can deliver quality education to children who are the future leaders. She also urged that during the deliberations, participants take a humanistic approach, since teachers are sent to outlying areas to take up positions and need to be given enough information on the culture and lifestyle of the residents of these areas.

The workshop was hosted at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development.