The Ministry of Education’s latest initiative to elevate teaching standards across the country has seen an overwhelming response, with new training courses offered in partnership with Columbia University already fully subscribed ahead of the September 24 start date.
The certificate programme in Teacher Efficacy and Leadership, developed with the prestigious US institution, aimed to enrol 100 educators in each of its two-year-long courses. But Minister of Education Kay McConney reported that one of the courses has exceeded its capacity, while the other is fully subscribed.
“This response shows the eagerness of our educators to improve and grow,” she said. “We will continue to invest in the continuous professional development of our teachers, our school leaders, and all those who are part of the community.”
The new Columbia University courses are part of a broader push by the ministry to transform the education system by prioritising the professional development of educators at all levels.
McConney revealed that over the past 18 months, the ministry has provided training opportunities for more than 3 000 education sector partners, including teachers, principals, social workers, school counsellors, and board members.
“Every child can learn with the right teacher and the right approach that suits their needs and those who teach need the training and the support to help them continuously improve,” she said.
The training sessions, which were held throughout the year, including during the summer holidays, covered a wide range of topics, including lessons on self-care for educators, trauma-informed care, leadership and team building, teaching students with special needs, and leadership training for student councils.
“Teachers cannot do their job alone. It’s the entire in-school support system that must be strengthened in our effort towards professional development,” McConney said.
She noted that the partnership with Columbia University was born out of a recognition that local institutions like Erdiston Teachers’ Training College cannot, by themselves, meet the demand for ongoing training.
“This partnership allows us to bring world-class training to our educators right here in Barbados,” the minister said.
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