Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Mar 21, 2014 News
A proposal has been made for untrained teachers in hinterland areas to be trained through financial support from the Education Ministry. Discussions in this regard have been ongoing among educators, even as the Ministry continues public consultations on Guyana’s Draft Professional Standards for teachers.
In a coordinated effort to craft a model professional standards policy document for teachers, the Ministry has already hosted a series of consultations countrywide with a number of key stakeholders. The process is designed to gain feedback on ways to improve the standards, and to invite engagement from the professionals.
Moreover, the discussions have also focused attention on the belief that “standards will raise the quality of teaching and learning in schools” and the fact that “parents need to show more interest in their children’s education”.
The consultations have also directed much attention to the notion that “teachers and parents need to work together to produce quality students who will be able to further their studies and come back to serve the community”.
Added to this, it has been emphasised that “strong PTAs (Parent Teacher Associations) are vital for the success of any school” and the fact that “teachers need to be supportive of each other, as together they work towards enhancing the quality of education they deliver and maintaining a disciplined learning environment”.
And the Ministry, as part of its efforts to amplify the importance of professionalism in the public education system, has underscored that “professional standards for teachers are not designed to be punitive, but rather to establish benchmarks for quality in the education system.”
Thus far consultations have been held in Georgetown, Regions One, Three, Six, and Seven where the areas of importance have been raised.
Copies of the draft Professional Standards for Teachers have been made available to teachers in the printed form for their perusal and comments, and it has also been strategically placed on the Ministry’s website www.education.gov.gy.
It is anticipated that the online document will also help to generate additional comments from those who cannot contribute in person at the countrywide consultations. In addition, members of the public were invited to submit their comments on the document via email to [email protected].
“As these public consultations continue throughout the country, the Ministry intends to address the many issues being raised, in an effort to craft a policy document on professional teacher standards that is comprehensive and applicable to the Guyana situation,” a statement from the Ministry said.
It is expected that through the establishment of professional teacher standards, the teaching profession will be significantly strengthened, further recognized, and aptly placed among the other leading professions in Guyana.
According to the Education Ministry, “Professional Standards for Teachers set expectations for achieving desired educational outcomes. These standards are not intended as a tool for punitive action. Rather they reflect professional consensus of what is desirable in the supervision, leadership and delivery of education.”
The standards are also intended to provide a framework that permits professionals to engage in self-assessment. Moreover, these standards are aligned to the Organization of American States (OAS), CARICOM and other international standards.
The Ministry has therefore insisted that “Professional Standards offer the professional community specifications against which teachers are able to set goals for personal development and progress in the profession.”
The standards, according to the Ministry too, are multi-dimensional and give cognizance to the key props for learning to take place, namely: (a) a motivated and willing learner; (b) effective teaching and learning and, (c) an enabling environment.
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Apr 19, 2024
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