(EMU) – St. Kitts, Wednesday, January 13, 2021: Officials from the Ministry
of Education joined in a celebration of accomplishment with fifty (50) of its
employees, to whom it rendered financial assistance as they advanced their
studies in Education at the University of West Indies (UWI).
The UWI Recognition and Virtual Ceremony held 13
th
January at the Antioch Baptist
Church acknowledged the challenging work of the successful graduates who worked
tirelessly to accomplish their academic goals.
While addressing the gathering Minister of Education, Hon. Jonel Powell the importance
of continued education. “Whenever nationals and citizens upgrade their qualifications, the
benefits extend to the nation where they are, and where they will be utilizing their
advanced education. This is why we continue to support the further education of our
nationals and the improvement in our human capital.”
The areas of study in the Master of Education program that teachers and educational
officials enrolled in, are of priority within the nation’s Education sector as the
government seeks to fulfill its commitments to improve education access and
promote professional and personal growth.
Graduands who enrolled in the Master of Education Leadership course, were exposed
to strategic leadership training skills which better prepared them to articulate the
vision and prepare students to grapple with the changing demands of the 21
st
century. Enrollment in this course was timely and ideal as it aligns with the ministry’s
program on leadership and accountability as it aims to improve the leadership
standards amongst its employees.
Graduands of the Master of Education Language and Literacy Education program
ensures that the ministry of education can improve the reading levels of students.
This intervention is a direct response to the findings of an OECS assessment on
reading levels within the region.
Additionally, the Ministry of Education will have strengthened the capacity of the
teaching force to ensure the success of its Reading Recovery Intervention Program
that is designed to help low achievers within the school systems, thereby increasing
the quality of education for these children.
According to a Ministry official, the Master of Education School Counselling will
improve the caliber of teachers who are interested in guidance and counselling.
Graduates in this field are expected to benefit the education sector as they will be able
to support the designated school counsellors themselves. This can help to alleviate
the issue of the limited number of counsellors in the schools.
These courses were offered collaboratively by the Teacher Education Division of
CFBC and the UWI Cave Hill campus in Barbados.
