Education Minister, Petter Saint Jean has advised teachers that in order to be effective they must keep updating and refining their knowledge and skills.
He made that statement while addressing the Dominica Association of Teachers (DAT) Summer Institute/workshop opening ceremony held at the Convent High School on Monday.
According to Saint Jean, his ministry must now consider the question of quality teaching and learning in schools, “and with that the effectiveness of our teachers.”
“In order to be effective teachers you must keep updating and refining your knowledge and skills,” Saint Jean said. “An even more pressing consideration for your profession though, is the fact that we live in a rapidly changing society with constant technological breakthroughs.”
Furthermore, he stated, the world that students faces is full of opportunities for innovation, advancement and transformation.”
“How can we therefore improve our education system to keep up with the changing times and prepare our children for success?” He asked. “My view is that teachers are the focal point for this new reality as we look to secure increase achievement levels among our students.”
Saint Jean noted that clearly expectations of education are high and provisions must be made for the continuous professional development of practitioners.
“Your role as teachers is critical in nurturing, guiding, and preparing our learners of today so that they can achieve their maximum potential,” he stated.
Saint Jean pointed out that both students and teachers must have a passion for learning and a constant “thirst and curiosity” for new knowledge.
“To achieve this, a clear and strong unity or purpose is important to develop a strong teacher identity and the competence to nurture and guide the next generation,” he stated.
He said the Ministry of Education is aware of the challenges that teachers face, “and so I am indeed heartened by your determination to persevere to provide sound education to our nation’s children.”
“This is why we continue to support the efforts to contribute to your personal growth including the work that is done by the DAT on a yearly basis to update your skills and knowledge,” he noted. “We also as a ministry continue to initiate our own in-service programs on a regular basis to expose teachers to new strategies for effective teaching and learning.”
Saint Jean noted further that the government has also invested significant sums of money to quality teachers at the diploma, undergraduate and graduate levels.
“In fact most recently under the Dominica Education Enhancement Project, 47 teachers were trained as Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQ) verifiers or assessors, and over 500 teachers were trained locally through workshops of various consultancies…,” he revealed
Saint Jean further revealed that 25 senior education practitioners are currently studying for a Masters Degree in Education Leadership at the University of the West Indies (UWI).
He encouraged participants to approach the workshop with a sense of purpose, “understanding that as a teaching fraternity, the future of our country rests solely upon you.”
How insulting to have St Jean as Minister of Education and even more so looking at qualified, intelligent people and subjecting them to his rants. Petter I’ll be gentle how many CXC’s or GCE O’levels do you have? Take your time…
yeah right. When you present your Bachelor´s in Education they push you to the side saying they cant afford to pay you and hire someone with an Associate´s instead. The hyprocrisy of these people.
hypocrisy*
Shocking that Saint Jean did not take the opportunity to reassure the audience that the government’s hiring process of teachers was professional and objective, or something along those lines. Considering the biting criticism that Ms. Nicholas threw at him (and he was probably in the audience) it is disappointing that he did not defend his ministry. Very weak, Mr. Saint Jean! Are you pleading guilty?
Mr. St Jean, what happens when teachers update their skills? Please sir look into the teachers who have joined the service as trained teachers and are not being appointed. Some teachers I know work like donkeys and are not rewarded but the lazy and unproductive ones get all 5he rewards..
Update your skills.. but there is no update of their salary…
When teachers spend thousands of dollars studying to come back to the same salary, how does that make sense to you Mr. Minister?
Yes.. the salary is important too…
#Don’tExpectWaterFromStone
they don’t expect water they expecting $100.00 bottle wine
St.Jean all yr reverse psychology will one day catch up with you. The tears of teachers will fall on you. God is not sleeping. KARAM is unforgiving.
Gasar. Pay those teachers properly. The future of our country rests solely upon the teachers and you not paying them properly? A lot of these dedicated teachers breaking their backs in the classroom and at the end of the month is scraps they getting. On top of that u all putting managers there that stressing them out even more. Stupez man.
I feel so sorry for these teachers who are dedicated. They have given their lives towards making professionals – doctors, lawyers, engineers etc and after 32 years of service is only receiving a meager #3,000. Shame, shame, shame.
that teacher lucky she making all that
What about their pay sir, i observed u didn’t go close to that topic. U verbally abused them earlier this year now here u come blowinv hot smoke
Teachers all over Dominica has advised Peta SJ..Jean that in order to be effective in government he and bunch of ministers they must keep updating and refining their knowledge and skills in decent government, accounting for poor people money, no more Bin Bobol, no more Red Clinic and no more abuse of mothers, families and children
Teachers are Not amused this rubbish
Saint Jean tells teachers to update skills, knowledge
Does a upgraded pay slip come with the upgraded skill set? Or will it be typical Dominica where you get underpaid for what you know? Teachers are already underpaid for all I care so while I do support teacher enhancement technically doing so would be adding insult to injury in terms of their pockets