Teachers attend In-Service training

Over 100 teachers from the primary and secondary schools are being trained in various subject areas, as the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers’ Union (SVGTU) In-service training Workshop continues.{{more}}

The opening ceremony of the Workshop took place at the Girls’ High School on Monday, July 12, 2010. The two-week workshop is done in collaboration with the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF), the Ministry of Education and first time sponsor Pearson.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, 1st Vice President of the SVGTU, Ronald Clarke, said that the Workshop is evidence that the Union is focused on developing members professionally. “We are not just concerned about making money,” Clarke said, adding that the Union has shown on many occasions its commitment to developing teachers professionally.

Clarke urged the participants to take full advantage of the two weeks and use it “as an appetizer” to gain new skills and to sharpen existing ones.

Minister of Education, Girlyn Miguel, also speaking at the opening ceremony, stated that the teachers are the essence of the education system. She added that the Ministry embraces every opportunity to assist in training programmes to train professionals in Education.

Pearson representative and former teacher, Byron Wilson, expressed his delight in being associated with the Workshop. Pearson is the world’s leading educational company, publishing brands such as Longman and Penguin. Wilson said that Pearson’s partnership with SVGTU is “all about giving back to society.”

Team Leader of the CTF, Deirdre Mc Kie, expressed that she and her team are excited to be in St. Vincent. “We are ready to work. We are eager to begin,” Mc Kie said.

Mc Kie, along with her team of five teachers, will assist local counterparts in training, which will be done in Social Studies, Information Technology, Differentiated Learning, Reading Comprehension and Writing Processes, Science and Math. (OS)