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Higher standards needed for persons seeking to become teachers – Dr Wheatley

- tells gathering of regional education officials in Guyana
Minister for Education, Culture, Agriculture, Fisheries, Sports, and Youth Affairs, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) making his presentation to education officials Wednesday, July 17, 2019, during the opening of consultation sessions at the Arthur Chung Conference Center in Liliendaal, Guyana. Photo: I-News
From left: Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7); Assistant Secretary General in Charge of Human and Social Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, Dr Douglas Slater and Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Antigua and Barbuda, Michael S. Browne. Photo: Guyana Chronicle.
From left: Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7); Assistant Secretary General in Charge of Human and Social Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, Dr Douglas Slater and Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Antigua and Barbuda, Michael S. Browne. Photo: Guyana Chronicle.
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, SA- Minister for Education, Culture, Agriculture, Fisheries, Sports, and Youth Affairs, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has told education officials and other stakeholders from across the region that there needs to be a higher threshold set for persons seeking to enter the teaching profession, according to Guyana media house, I-News, on July 18, 2019.

Hon Wheatley made the suggestion on Wednesday, July 17, 2019, during the opening of a two-day Regional Consultation on Developing Standards for the Teaching Profession in Latin America and the Caribbean Region.

The consultation sessions were held at the Arthur Chung Conference Center in Liliendaal, Guyana.

“We cannot expect students who are not properly learned to properly teach, so it is imperative to set a high threshold for those seeking to enter the profession as is the case with law and medicine,” Hon Wheatley told a gathering of regional education personnel.

“If one would not want a C student operating on their body, one should not tolerate a C student operating on the young minds of the nation,” the Education Minister Wheatley continued.

According to I-News, Hon Wheatley emphasised that teachers must also be equipped with special skills, to cater for all types of students.

“Teachers must be equipped to teach students who are not only visual learners, but who learn through doing, who are tactile and auditory. Teachers must learn to use technology to enhance the learning experience. Teachers must be trained in identifying students who have learning disabilities and recommend them for support services as necessary.”

Hon Wheatley also said the [British] Virgin Islands had considered issuing licences to teachers and that this would be one way of evaluating teachers and would not be used as a punitive measure but as a means of offering help to them.

Importance of higher standards

Guyana’s Chief Education Officer (CEO) Marcel Hutson, according to I-News, underscored the importance of setting these higher standards.

“Standards for teachers or teacher educators are paramount. Why? Teacher educators are strategically positioned to serve as catalysts for the required change in the education delivery and outcomes,” Hutston stated.

As a consequence, the CEO noted that these persons must be able to model teaching that demonstrates content, professional knowledge, skills and the dispositions which reflect research, proficiency with technology and accepted best practices.

I-News said the consultation event is being undertaken as part of a series of workshops being done in five regions internationally to acquire input from key education stakeholders including teachers, teacher organisations, education planners, teaching regulatory councils, teacher educators, and researchers.

Participants will be asked to review and comment on a guidance framework and suggest ways in which it can be refined as well as recommend approaches for local adaptations, according to I-News.

7 Responses to “Higher standards needed for persons seeking to become teachers – Dr Wheatley”

  • ... (19/07/2019, 17:57) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    so proud of Dr. Wheatley, when funny man went away we never heard word back
  • wize up (20/07/2019, 07:34) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    will continue saying: labour and education have to foster a different perspective in the future development of the British Virgin Islands: there is an urgent need to educate people in the areas where we continue issuing permits to work: labour needs to identify the post where permits are handed out then advise the education department so steps can be taken an educate our people in such areas: it will not be quick fix but a possible step in a forward thinking department: teaching should be more than presenting of the syllabus to the young people they must be thought the heritage of the British Virgin Islands(local knowledge!!!!)
    • @wise up (21/07/2019, 06:36) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      We've been hearing this suggestion from all angles for omteen of years. Maybe we should put this suggestion or issue to another department to deal with. It is well established that labour is incapable of dealing with anything. Especially when it comes to fighting or representing workers efficiently and effectively...
      • wize up (21/07/2019, 09:08) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        @@ Wize Up: as an example: there was a head of labour department: this person was given special privileges at certain business establishments throughout this territory: so when workers from those given companies had issues with their management nothing could be done because the head of labour was in bed with the company.....
  • facts (20/07/2019, 11:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Teachers need to be committed to knowledge themselves. They need seek to qualify themselves. For how long would a teacher be in the classroom with a bare Associates Degree. Many countries have the minimum qualification at a Bachelor's Degree. The ministry needs to make a conscious decision to encourage teachers to improve their qualifications and to become better, more qualified teachers. It is not only about those desiring of entering teaching but those who are in and are stagnant. Apart from that, principals also need to be constantly trained especially in the area of developing and maximizing the potentials of their staff thus eliminating the behavior of some of them acting like playground bullies or Donald Trump- My way or the highway.
  • musa (20/07/2019, 13:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    best need to be as leaders
  • Motivation (24/07/2019, 16:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    How about discussing more attractive packages for our teachers. If the job is more attractive, you will be able to demand higher standards. Otherwise, government will always be in a position of having to take whoever they can get.


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