Education Minister challenges teachers to renew commitment to student success

St. Jean

Minister for Education and Human Resource Development, Petter St. Jean on Friday called on teachers to reflect on their role in effecting positive change in the lives of Dominica’s children.

Addressing a rally at the Seventh Day Adventist Primary School in Wesley, to celebrate the 18th World Teachers’ Day, St. Jean said teachers were well placed to make a “valuable contribution to schools and the society as a whole.”

“As dedicated teachers, you should observe this day not just as a day of celebration but as a day when you reflect on your role within the teaching profession.  Reflection will assist you in evaluating yourselves as teachers with a distinct aim to improve your practice.  Reflection entails introspection and an examination of conscience. A true teacher is one who can unreservedly admit that he or she has done all which could have been humanly possible for his or her students and feels contented with the effort,” the Education Minister said, adding that students are greatly influenced by a teacher’s affection, kindness and commitment to duty.

St. Jean also encouraged teachers to take advantage of opportunities for professional advancement, pointing to his government’s decision to make funding available for training, and to ongoing partnerships with the Dominica State College and the University of the West Indies Distance Learning.

“With uncertainty in economies in a fast paced technological world, the need to keep abreast with new developments within the field of education has become even more critical. Teachers who maximize opportunities for continuous learning serve as essential role models for their students, their schools and their communities,” he said.

He added that teachers were also being trained to equip students with the necessary vocational skills for entry into the employment market.

“To this end, our schools are already in the preparatory stages for the implementation of Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQ) in the near future.  We hope that our teachers will be fully equipped to provide high quality instruction which facilitates competencies and standards relevant to employment in a changing economy,” he noted.

The rally, organised by the Dominica Association of Teachers (DAT) to celebrate World Teacher’s Day observed on October 5th, was held under the theme, “Teachers for Gender Equality.”

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37 Comments

  1. CaCa Chat La
    October 10, 2011

    The big speeches are always good
    but the government needs to give more incentives to encourage the teachers to remain teaching.
    I honestly believe that this administration can do better than it’s already doing. We came from a long way, and it really took vision from this administration to get us here, nevertheless more can and should be done.
    Migration is still high, we are losing our work-force to the US and Canada like the nurses and teachers, the government needs to do a better job of taking care of their own. There is too much discrepancy in the system. (Ex) How can you appoint a teacher and then withdraw her appointment due to her lack of qualification (Do your research first so you all will not look like lost sheep) .How long is going to be before you pay some teachers their HOD stipend, how are you encouraging them by these actions?
    Remember those two jobs are the most underpaid jobs in the system,
    (Some) teachers are really hard working and are deeply committed to the cause, but when they request for a raise they are often sent under the bus, forgetting the challenges and abuses that they face at the hands of the BET kids and high school dropout parents, that are mostly ignorance of the fact that it takes a community to raise a child.
    It’s not like before when the resources where limited and teaching and nursing was a respectable jobs working for penny, the days of love for country are gone because the country doesn’t love you back so we have to live with the repercussions

  2. BRAIN DAMAGE
    October 10, 2011

    Mr. Sain Jean, Teachers have to grind to make it eh.

  3. me camem
    October 9, 2011

    For real is the most unpatriotic idiotic jack_donkey ASS_s I have ever seen write such stupidity and crap. You should be sent to the gallows as a traitor to the country. I have never encountered such idiocy. I hope you are not living in Dominica, so the world over does not believe we have such stupid people in our beloved country.

  4. concerned citizen
    October 9, 2011

    Whilst Mr. St Jean is encouraging teachers to take advantage of the professional enhancement. I would like to let him know that there are teachers who did the pre service course with the faculty of Ed and are being paid the same salary as a high school graduate teacher. In addition, to make matters worse they are considered to be an unqualified teacher what gross disrespect by the Ministry of Education.

  5. Nudibranch
    October 9, 2011

    Chalk boards….. i know some classrooms lacking that
    Universal education as it stands is an abject FAILURE, just because some child sat in the back of the class for a year doesn’t mean they move to the next form come September, I know a form 3 that can barely read and write, a whole bunch of illiterate 3rd formers…why? the initial class was so big they broke them up, these kids have no parental intervention, and no incentive to look out of the gutter. Come July they’ll be looking forward to form 4 because the system says move on for time served.
    The teacher had no desk at the beginning of the year, now she does, but no chair, all the things in her class she has had to purchase from her own pocket. She went to NAME (Nat Association of Math Educators, for help, and the person asking the math resource center was told to go away, despite a room full of resource materials lying gathering dust. If a board member of NAME cant access maths materials, who can. especially for a class of illiterates
    Vocational schools of excellence should be implemented island wide. Mechanics in Grand Bay, welding in Goodwill etc. not everyone is cut out to do all subjects, however they have to pass maths and English. Your child friendly classrooms will also fail because on paper it looks great, however the teachers have to find the time to write individually crafted curriculum.

    St Jean, pull your head out, look around and make the changes that need to be done, ask the teachers, not some idiot who has never seen anything further than the next political manifesto. An illiterate nation will remain in poverty and always be seeking cap in hand for the next donor.

    Knowledge is power.

  6. CaCa Chat La
    October 9, 2011

    the big speeches are always good
    but the government need to give the teachers intensives to encourage them to stay in the system.We are loosing so many of them to the US and Canada like the nurses, we government need to do a better job of taking care of their own.
    Remember those two job are the most under-payed jobs, for the teachers work really starts at home.
    It’s not like before when peoples stayed 20 and 30 years in the system working for penny and the pride and love for country,the country isn’t loving you back so here are repercussion.

  7. look it
    October 9, 2011

    Well, what i say to that is students must be given the opportunity to learn in this day and age in schools that are more conducive to learning. Go around on the island and tell me if the conditions at some of the schools merit people working or trying to learn there. Some of them are just like gawen puole. They worked on the past, not working now. And for the love of god pay teachers decent professional salaries. you all are demanding professionalism but some teachers earn less that some cashiers at some business institutions.

  8. True talk
    October 9, 2011

    Mr Peter tell me y the qualify person can’t get a teachers job and u r pulling string and employ people with no qualification

  9. Anonymous
    October 9, 2011

    Mr Petter St Jean why are the government secondary schools are not on par re: discipline and CSEC exams as compared to the private schools?

    • execute command.
      October 10, 2011

      BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT THINKS THAT THE WORKING CLASS ARE ITS INDENTURED SERVANTS, SO THOSE WHO NOT IN THAT SLAVERY BUSINESS GO TO THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS WHERE THEY ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT!!

  10. for real
    October 9, 2011

    teachers should really take advantage of the training offered here. this training can take u places. teachers do not get paid enough in dominica so take ur training and go to the usvi, anguilla,usa even antigua and u will be paid big box for the educaton and training u received here.it is time our goveernment raise teachers pay and encourage them to stay here and work.reflection and being a role model doesnt pay the bills, mr st jean!

  11. 1979 LIVES!!!
    October 9, 2011

    Slavery abolish, pay people a decent salary, ON TIME and stop abuse public workers. like what going on for a whole year now at PUBLIC WORKS. Allu have NO RESPECT for honest hard working people.

    • execute command.
      October 10, 2011

      how would some of your like it??? to be going ten days into the next month after working 30 DAYS!!!!!! and no money!!! everytime u have to bow your head in shame after working THIRTY DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  12. form 4 students
    October 9, 2011

    i will like u to remove the principal of the goodwill secondary i am not safe at this school

    • eee
      October 9, 2011

      Start believing in God and take your work seriously and you will be safe.That’s what the principal wants you to do. Stop the Nonsense!

      • execute command.
        October 10, 2011

        you believe god will send mana from heaven to feed people children??????????????????? boss just stop talking GARBAGE eh, god help those who OPEN THEIR BIG MOUTH and HELP THEMSELVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Gracious
      October 9, 2011

      who is the principal of the Goodwill Secondary?

  13. Anonymous
    October 8, 2011

    Ya

  14. Nostalgia
    October 8, 2011

    Why does everything has to be about politics?????? What happen to the best interest of the children and country??

    • October 9, 2011

      Dont be blind sighted that you cannot read between the lines I am so tired of others look at DOMINICANS as brainless people they cant think or figure out things for themselves they depend on the so call politicans and they are the same folks that brought them to the point they are at now the Education minister telling teachers what they should and shouldnt do if you cant get to the teachers and parents why not use the children to make points teachers are not respected by your GOVT they have to deal with a lot they have the children in their care from morning to afternoon they should be hansomely paid well so dont dont blame them for moving out to persue greener pastures, you should be able to tell your GOVT they cannot have it both ways they have to give to get the teachers are using what material they have training is good but will they get the suppies they would need to do their job or they will get more of the running around.

    • Anonymous
      October 10, 2011

      If the Minister of Education was not involved in a political court case it would not be about politics.

    • execute command.
      October 10, 2011

      it is in the best interest of children for their parents to recieve the salaries ON TIME!!!!!! and avoid incurring IOUs from school baby sitter and landlord!!! I will rough up an employer with my stress before i go home and rough up my child…

  15. ?????
    October 8, 2011

    Mr Petter St.Jean: Why is it that so many of the Government Secondary Schools are doing so badly both in terms of discipline and success at the CSEC exam, as compared to the private schools? Isn’t that a concern to you?

  16. FLORIDA
    October 8, 2011

    Schools need proper cafeteria with lunch area for the students. In this modern times students have to be sitting on the grass or near dog poo. The cafeteria can sell food, drinks etc. and the profit can go to student prizes first in Maths and Accelerated Readers.

    Parents and business sector should make donations to the schools and government match the donations received. That money can be invested into IPODS, SMART BOARDS(chalk boards are out) and the latest technology for our students to learn. The school with the highest contribution hold a pizza party.

    • eee
      October 8, 2011

      No pizza party, but good suggestion.I LIKE IT, but they are not concerned about that.You can guess what they are concerned about. THEIR POCKETS.!

    • October 9, 2011

      Schools are the responsibility of the GOVT not parents or businesses I am for students putting together fundraising events to raise funds for different projects only it gives the students are better feel of financial responsiblity but their parents should not be ask to fund schools because the GOVT don’t care they should be making sure that these elected men/women take the responsibilty seriously because they were elected to do the job.

  17. Anonymous
    October 8, 2011

    Mr. St Jean now tell me why is it that when teachers are trained, they are paid as an unqualified teacher. Even when they have degree or certificate.

    • BRAIN DAMAGE
      October 10, 2011

      What is this! So what’s the average salary for the teachers?

  18. Governance
    October 8, 2011

    It is sad that every statement regardless of which political party, is attacked with some unfortunate comments. The Minister of Education has every right to support and encourage teachers despite of his alleged failures. Tell me, who does not have faults? We all have faults, and if we all have faults, then according to the person who chastised the Minister, we should all keep quiet. If a drug addict says to students, do not get involved with drugs, should the students say to him, “you are a drug addict, why talk to us?” The students (1) should do their utmost to stay from drugs (2) assist the the person on drugs to rid himself of his addiction. We should do our utmost to be a caring people. We are here to comfort and support each other regardless of political affiliation, religion, creed, race, colour of the skin.

    • Anonymous
      October 10, 2011

      I agree with you, but in order for a drug addict to get help he must admit that he has a problem. Education minister refusing to speak has not admitted that he have a problem. When that happens he will get encouragement and help.

  19. October 8, 2011

    YOU MR PETTER MUST BE AN EXAMPLE YOURSELF AND TEACH THE STUDENTS ABOUT PRINCIPLES AND ETHICS AND CITIZENSHIP.

    YOU MUST STEP DOWN BY VIRTUE OF YOUR DUAL CITIZENSHIP

    • ,,,,,,,,,,
      October 8, 2011

      WELL SAID! He definitely isn’t!

    • anonymous
      October 8, 2011

      some people real ignorant and politically driven u kno… they don’t see how stupid there are…Mr St jean and the other members of parliament are the ones in government and they hold the key to our betterment…why the france you don’t give them a chance nuh…our leaders in government should be treated with utmost respect they have a weight carrying, the burdens of running a country. Is people like allu dat does stress dem out and make things difficult!!!! stupes

      • Gracious
        October 9, 2011

        If they want people to respect them they must first respect themelves and respect the laws of the country.Respect is earned

      • 1979 LIVES!!!
        October 10, 2011

        You doe must have load when you want to be ONE MAN building the great wall of china by yourself. Empower people and the burden will lighten. Mr st jean is not a victim , but reaping the reward of his own choices… 8) I feel no pity for him..

    • Gracious
      October 9, 2011

      Mr Peter,be the first example. Be honest. Set the example for our students by respecting the law of the country.

  20. mother
    October 8, 2011

    stupes…………..

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