Head of the Social Studies Department at the Aurora Secondary School Vishnu Narine has emerged as the top performer for the Education Management Certificate course in Region Two. Elaine Sookdeo and Karsen Sookdeo of Charity Secondary were the second and third best performers, respectively.
The teachers credited their success to late night studies and guidance from their master trainer Madhya Persaud.
Narine, delivering his valedictory speech, said that he was happy that he was selected to do the course. He expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Education and National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) for providing teachers with the opportunity to build their leadership and management skills. Narine said that studying was challenging, especially during the pandemic. He, however, encouraged other teachers to do the course.
Elaine Sookdeo was also very grateful for the opportunity to do the course and thanked the Ministry of Education. She said that the knowledge gained will be applied to her everyday life and teaching.
Meanwhile, Madhya Persaud, a retired headmaster, said 10 teachers from various secondary and primary schools in the region comprised the 10th batch of students to do the course. During his address, he noted that the Ministry of Education through NCERD recognised that one of the key factors influencing school effectiveness is provided by heads of department and therefore a good effective school leader must be trained.
Persaud also observed that the Ministry of Education is providing enormous financial, material and human resources but in many cases, the returns are far below what is expected. Persaud said in 1998 a survey was done to ascertain the reason for the poor performances in school and it was found that the principal factor responsible was poor leadership.
“It was against this backdrop the Ministry of Education along with NCERD embarked on this course in an attempt to improve school performance and meet the needs of the boy who sits in the chair,” Persaud said. He said Region Two was selected for the pilot project in 2000 through Commonwealth Learning. The course was first conducted in Africa, Uganda, Botswana, Nigeria and Zimbabwe. With resounding success, it was then brought to Guyana. The first thing that was done when it came to Guyana was to customise the modules, which are taught over an 18-month period.
Monthly tutorials sessions are held by master trainers who visit the schools regularly to check on trainee’s practicum and projects and also to get feedback on trainee’s performance.
Region Two Chairperson Vilma De Silva called on the teachers not to see the certificate as a tool for promotion but to help develop their school management system. De Silva called upon teachers to continue to give their best in the education sector.
Regional Education Officer, Nigel Richards, also said that he will be following up with the schools and desires that the practical skills gained are applied.
Sareena Seemangal, the best graduating teacher from the 9th batch, charged the teachers to be good leaders and managers in the school system. She urged them to inspire and motivate each other and to also show empathy in the process.
