(EMU) – St. Kitts, Tuesday, January 12, 2021: The importance of the In-service training of newly employed teachers was emphasized by Minister of Education, Hon. Jonel Powell at an opening ceremony held on Tuesday January 12th, as he cited the 2015 Oslo Summit on Education for Development which emphasized the role of Government in supporting teachers.
The Summit stated that “the quality of an education system can exceed neither the quality of its teachers nor the quality of its teaching” which justifies the ministry’s training focus.
The launch of the In-service training for the school year 2020-2021 was held under the theme: Education for all: Embracing Change, Securing the Future. Through this program, the Ministry of Education has consistently taken a proactive role in ensuring that teachers are appropriately prepared to handle the demands of the classroom. The in-service training also enables the ministry to achieve positive outcomes in “professionalizing the teaching force” as outlined in the 2017-2021 Education Sector Plan.
Addressing the new teachers, the head coordinator of the program, Mr. Francil Morris, encouraged attendees to view this training as a stepping stone for their professional enhancement as they will be provided with the building blocks to boost self-confidence and make them well-rounded individuals. Mr. Morris elaborated on the objectives of this staff development endeavour, which is aimed at not only honing the relevant skills, competencies and knowledge required to function in the teaching – learning environment; but one which also seeks to bridge the gap between the new and experienced teachers.
“In-Service education is the elixir of life for teachers, as teachers cannot survive
without in-service training,”: words of the Minister of Education, Hon. Jonel
Powell as he stressed his ministry’s commitment to invest in teachers.
Teachers were encouraged to capitalize on this opportunity to improve the quality of education for our nation’s youths, by way of their personal empowerment.
Minister Powell congratulated the newest members of the teaching force on their employment and pledged his unwavering support of their professional development as he reiterated his ministry’s commitment to ensuring that teachers are well supported, professionally trained and qualified.
