(ZIZ News) — On Friday, Staff of the Saddlers, Edgar T. Morris and Estridge Primary Schools participated in a Professional Development Exercise.
Held at the conference room of the National Emergency Management Agency [NEMA], the all-day event was held under the theme “Enhancing Our Skills, Broadening Our Knowledge Base Through Professionalism.”
ZIZ News was on hand at the Opening Ceremony which featured remarks by Chief Education Officer Clarice Cotton, and Education Officer Lisa Pistana and Chaired by Daryll Lloyd.
Cotton said she was pleased with the topics chosen.
“I was very pleased when I saw the topics because we know that the teaching of composition is a skill that we have to work on, all our students. Map skills are not something that everyone can do, Differentiated Instruction. The Ministry of Education, in its white paper, actually said that by 2017, all teachers will be trained in Differential Instruction and so, we are very glad that you have taken that topic, she said. ”
Meantime, Pistana praised the schools for their collaborative approach to Professional Development.
“Professional Development is an ongoing process that should be embraced and utilised. Even more importantly, they must be taught by persons, meaning your students, by persons who value long life learning. Today, your presence has indicated your desire to become long life learners and contributing members of your school’s staff, she said. ”
The morning sessions addressed the topics “The Teaching of Composition: Descriptive and Narrative Writing”, “Map Skills” and “Differentiated Instructions.”
The afternoon sessions commenced at 1:05pm with “Conditions Of Work In The Civil Service”. That was followed by “Positive Behavioural Management” at 2:20.