Ministry appoints 26 school boards

THE EDUCATION Ministry has appointed 26 Secondary School Boards  “to focus on enhancing the school’s physical environment, making it more conducive to learning.” Instruments of Appointment were presented to the chairman of each Board yesterday at the Rudranath Capildeo Learning Resource Centre, Mc Bean, Couva. Education Minister Hazel Manning told the chairmen: “You are expected to work with your schools in the development of policy that will help them to become  quality education institutions. “Part of your responsibility  will be to work with teachers and administrators to provide students with meaningful and exciting school experiences from which they will learn those essential things  of greatest value to them, their communities, and the society at large.” Manning said she expects the School Boards to lead the way  in forging strong linkages and partnerships with business, cultural, sporting, religious and other organisations in the community.

She told the School Boards that they must ensure that there are  systems of accountability for the behaviour of students; the due care and attention of duty by teachers;  the protection of plant;  and the security of equipment. “In this way you will help to ensure that all our students are provided with meaningful, quality education and you will also safeguard the significant investment the nation is making in education,” she stressed. “You must become a strong voice for your school, spreading the good news of the positive strides and achievements of the students on whose behalf you function. “If  we are to transform our schools to satisfy the requirements of the 21st century, we have to shift the management and leadership style from one  which ensures that teachers and students do the right things, to one which demonstrates leadership by results,” the Minister said.