(EMU) – St. Kitts, November 9, 2016 The importance of teachers in achieving success in the Child Friendly School environment was highlighted at the St Pauls Primary School’s Professional Development Day held on Monday November 7th.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education Mr William Hodge supported the view that teacher input as well as mastery of the teaching and subject-delivery process. would assist in making the students more apt to learn.
“Some educators advise that it is content and concepts like multiplication tables, learning poems and spelling that help to build memory and retention; Multiplication Tables, Poetry and Spelling!”
The Permanent Secretary was supporting earlier comments by Principal of the St. Pauls Primary School Mr. John Gumbs, who stated that professional development is the link between teachers’ “individual skills and knowledge and how their contribution bears out in terms of student outcome.” The principal also stated that “The process of professional development should provide teachers the opportunity to expand their skills, develop new strategies and deepen their understanding of subject content because what teachers know is a major influence on how students learn.”
Mr. Gumbs shared that the theme for the event was “Empowering Teachers to Build Strong Pillars to Transform a Child Friendly School.
The principal highlighted his personal view that in order to promote and nurture effective teaching the profession should offer quality training, a well designed career path; time to plan collaboratively on how to help students; quality evaluation that helps teachers in their development; fair accountability processes and professional development based on identified needs.
As such, in order to equip teachers with the relevant information and skills the workshop focussed on professionalism in the workplace (Dawn Mills – Professionalism Consultant); Teaching Mathematics using manipulatives (James Morris – Math Co-ordinator) as well as Early Signs of Drug use in Students (Inspector Travis Rogers – Police Force); all with a view to making teachers more proactive in the Child Friendly School environment..
