Pre-selection for teachers

10.AUG.07

Editor: Often times the posts for the Senior Qualified Assistant Teacher and Principal are placed as a print advertisement in the newspapers; a particularistic approach that involves favouritism is used for selection.

It is very typical in our Vincentian society to hear who will be given positions before they are actually published.{{more}} Therefore, some of the applicants are already hearing who will be appointed principal for the next school year (“through the grape vine”).

These practices are brought about by the politicization and lack of respect for professionalism. Such appointments are usually the unabashed and shameful practice of nepotism, cronyism, and political favouritism. Such appointments can also be damaging for the applicants, the employer, and the teaching profession, and can result in a range of undesirable consequences. This includes lower job satisfaction and reduced work motivation. Far too often the system is extensively belittled by politicians in their attitudes.

Individuals must not be selected for positions without having the appropriate qualifications, experience, business acumen, imagination, logic, vision, clear thinking or management skills to enable them to carry out their roles successfully. A sense of responsibility and accountability must also be imminent. It should be based on which candidate is most qualified for the position and is made pursuant to the Ministry of Education and Services Commission’s standard screening, interviewing, reference checking process, and equity requirements.

I am suggesting that all deficiencies of the system must be seriously and thoroughly addressed to make the selection process for the position of principal dispassionate.

A Concerned Teacher