National Curriculum Council coming

The establishment of a National Curriculum Council to support curriculum development within all primary and secondary schools, as well as the creation of a comprehensive, integrative approach to the development of  teaching professionals were among the initiatives outlined yesterday by Education Minister, Hazel Manning, as part of her Ministry’s mandate for 2004. The National Curriculum Council, she said, would comprise members from a wide cross-section of society, inclusive of parent and student representatives, while the Ministry would seek to produce teachers who would be on the “cutting edge” of their subject expertise. They would also become experts in the art of modern teaching and learning strategies, classroom management and student development. Manning was addressing the Ministry’s 2003 Retirees Award Ceremony held at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya, to honour 350 retirees from various posts in the education sector.

Commending the retirees for a job well done during their collaborative 10,500 years of service, Manning noted that they had also played active roles in the development of society. She maintained that during their distinguished careers, they have all affected the values and characters of the young by being effective caregivers and motivators, good role models and mentors. “Young people,” she said, “need inspiring examples of individuals who can make a positive difference in their lives.” “Our country needs good role models.” Noting that the Ministry remained deeply concerned and committed to expanding access to education at the primary and secondary levels, Manning  said that it would continue to construct schools in areas where needs have been identified. She further maintained that the focus on curriculum would now move away from the prevailing teacher-centred, rote-memorisation world of instruction to a more interactive, student-centred learning model. “One of the greatest challenges facing our schools today,” Manning said, “is teaching our children respect, responsibility, hard work, compassion and values so desperately needed in our society.”

She called on the retirees to put their lifetime of skills in values and moral development and education to continued good use, helping the Ministry to polish the leadership skills of those who continue to teach. President of the TT Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA), Trevor Oliver, also commended the retirees for what he called their enormous contribution to national growth and development. The association, he maintained, had recognised the need to have a pension upgrade for teaching retirees and noted that TTUTA was prepared to work with the Education Ministry and the Public Services Association to ensure that these benefits keep up with the spira-ling rate of inflation. He also appealed to the Ministry to do whatever was necessary to ensure that retirees are paid their pensions on time.