Minister for Education, Dr, the Honourable Ingrid Buffonge has stated that the ministry has drafted a strengthening and support policy for teachers to help them navigate the daily tasks of dealing with students development.
She however said that further work is required before it is presented to the Cabinet for consideration.
Speaking in parliament, Dr. Buffonge said the purpose of the policy is to address the conditions in which teachers work, and to address the support that they require.
She said the Government has “engaged with a company to provide continued professional development free of charge for our teachers. This supports the Education Transformation Project Manager and the Transformation Team’s intention to establish weekly CPD opportunities for teachers. The student census points to areas that should inform this development and really CPD must include how to better communicate with adolescents and effective ways in which teachers can engage with students and effective ways of using technology and lessons.
Dr. Buffonge outlined that the OECS Harmonized Curriculum will “provide the foundation of the curriculum alongside relevant aspects of the Montserrat Curriculum which was developed in 2022 in particular for its specific cultural components. And this hybrid approach will draw both regional support and local relevance.”
The OECS Learning Hub provides support including assistance with lesson planning. We have also paid for the education management information system and electronic management in education. Funding has been requested for equipment to help schools and teachers to deliver part of their work electronically,” she announced.