-as outreach to institutions in the education sector continues
President David Granger, on Wednesday, met with students and staff of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) as he continues his outreach to educational institutions in what he calls fact finding missions to hear from the administrators and beneficiaries directly even as Government zeroes in on modernising and reforming the educational sector.
According to the Ministry of the Presidency, the Head of State explained to students and instructors at the college that his administration recognises the importance of these consultations.
Joined by the Minister of Education, Ms. Nicolette Henry, during the visit, the President said that he acknowledges that much more needs to be done to ensure that the CPCE is better equipped to effectively train the nation’s teachers but the input of qualified stakeholders in the reform process is needed. “From what I can hear this afternoon, there must be more conversations; there must be more deliberations among the people, who are in the system. It is not a boardroom decision; it is not an academic decision that we can just sit in an office and make rules,” he said.
President Granger also said that he will make the results of the recently completed report on the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the education sector available to the institution so that it can study its findings and add to its content, the MoTP said.
The forum was highly interactive as it allowed for both staff and students of the institution to speak freely on issues that are affecting them.
CPCE’s Vice-Principal for Curriculum and Instruction, Ms. Paula Monforte said that as the Ministry of Education works to reform the sector, they should seek the knowledge, expertise and buy-in of people, who are specialists in the system.
With regard to the One Laptop per Teacher (OPLT) programme, the President was informed that some students were not able to benefit from the initiative. He assured that the programme will continue with the aim of ensuring that every educator is equipped with a laptop, which is now a vital teaching tool in the classroom.
After the meeting, the President walked around to various sections of the College to get a better idea of the needs of the institution. He was accompanied Minister Henry, Chief Education Officer, Mr. Marcel Hutson and CPCE’s Principal, Ms. Viola Rowe.
