President of the Dominica Association of Teachers (DAT) Mervin Alexander believes that Dominican teachers appear to be divided.
He made the remark while addressing teachers during the DAT 17th Biennial Convention held at the Goodwill Parish Hall on Wednesday.
“From my observation on attending various meetings of teachers unions in the Caribbean region and the Americas, Dominica teachers appear to be the most divided, and we need to stop and think about the implications of that disunity,” Mr. Alexander remarked.
He continued, “Permit me to say we need to take a leaf from the pages of the Grenadian Union of Teachers, which to my mind is the best organized union in the OECS.”
Mr. Alexander pointed out that this union has organized branches in every parish in the country with their own executive.
“They have their own group health medical insurance and at one time they had their own credit union…,” he noted. “They also hold an educational conference every year to educate and train.”
Mr. Alexander is of the opinion that every teacher in Dominica should be fully knowledgeable about the Dominica Association of Teachers because it is the agency that represents teachers in Dominica.
He said teaching and learning are the core activities of a school.
“We should make good use of every minute of invaluable instruction time on enhancing students’ learning,” Mr. Alexander stated.
Furthermore, Mr. Alexander said teachers play a pivotal role in the life of each and every student.
According to him, a teacher need not be perfect, but a teacher ought to be knowledgeable to provide the students with the right information.
“Teachers are a source of information; some students even follow the footsteps of their teachers,” he said.
He went on to state that as teachers, apart from striving for advancement in academic achievements, “we also nurture students with good and proper attitudes and values.”
Mr. Alexander indicated that teachers must continue to offer countless opportunities for students to take part in various co-curricular activities and community service to broaden their exposure and insights.
He believes that the achievements of a school do not come easy.
“The drive for excellence deeply permeates the school’s culture,” he stated.
He thanked the many teachers and principals for their professionalism and commitment to building a solid foundation for students at the various schools across the island.
“Also, to the past leaders of this organization, for their dedication and hard work,” Mr. Alexander said. “To the parents, I also say thank you for taking an active role in the support of the schools and students for your diligent work and engagement in your school activities.”
Meanwhile, during the convention, the DAT recognized members who have given many years of service to the association.
The members were presented with a token of appreciation.
The DAT 17th Biennial Convention is being observed under the theme: “Artificial Intellegence: Its Implications for Education.”
what is really the role of DAT…teachers pay a monthly subscription and …..
Mr Alexander, there are so many issues with teachers and the entire Education system in Dominica. Teachers, I repeat, should be the highest paid workers in any country. Put another way, no employee should have a salary above that of a teacher. NO teacher should enter the classrom untrained. No one would ask an untrained pilot to fly a plane. Our classrooms are too overcrowded. Doctors attend to one patient at a time ; if an error is made – and all humans make errors – one person suffers. In the case of teachers, the error is multiplied.
All educationists know that learning has its greatest impact during the tender age, given the brain’s plasticity, yet our best trained teachers are not to be found neither at kindergarden nor primary schools.
Moreover, the system is concerned more about passing exams instead of learning. And even you still use meaningless words like ACADEMIC. Is being able to construct a computer ” academic”? Many teachers don’t even want USE!! Lots of work to…
You started making sentence with the comment, but your last paragraph was utter nonsence… There will ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS,always, always, be a very vital and critical role for highly ACADEMIC students in all societies, all around the world, but we need to cster more for those who are not academically inclined. Every society needs ACADEMICALLY SOUND people, and they are highly cherished as well. They design and build our machines, houses, discover innovations in medicine, agriculture, manufacturing, aviation, mechanics, etc,etc, etc, etc,. Anyone who believes that academic is unimportant OR A BAD WORD is not to be listened to. HE SHOULD USE THE TERM ‘academic’ even more. So be careful of what you write. Think first, write afterwards.
Teachers divided?
hmmmmm
Police divided?
hmmmmm
While you boast off Grenada with de best Teachers Union you expose us as not being anywhere close.
I think you should make yourself aware of de reasons for de division and for you to work on them.
dat 17 year life of de union ……fits squarely within de timeframe of influence from de dlp government
nuff said
what about inspiring leadership from a minister of education?
all you need to go shake all you pampalam!!!
Teachers are among the lowest paid and most neglected professionals in the civil service. They are too docile and seemingly too easily satisfied for their own good.
A teacher’s work goes far beyond the classroom, it touches eternity. They create the doctors, lawyers, engineers, builders, in fact, they are indispensable to the development of any thriving society.
They should be well looked after and be treated as nation builders. However, they have to become more assertive and agitate for better salaries and working conditions.
“If you have to put someone on a pedestal, put teachers. They are society’s heroes.” – Guy Kawasaki