Basseterre, St. Kitts (SKNIS) — Educators of the Saddlers Secondary School recently took some time to focus on their roles as professionals and develop competences in areas that will benefit the students.
This was done during a Professional Development Workshop at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Conference Room held under the theme “Reflecting, Recharging and Recommitting to Instructional Design in the Classroom.”
Education Officer Lisa Pistana stated that the yearly event signals the teachers’ willingness to work with the Ministry of Education and punctuates their own desire to improve their educational skills. She added that education, “much like the world”, is always changing and teachers need to keep abreast.
“Ideas and technology from five years ago are almost obsolete thereby forcing us to update our skills,” Ms. Pistana stated. “These fast paced advancements in education also threaten to engulf teachers if they do not engage in continuous professional development in order to adequately serve our nation’s children.”
Clarice Cotton, Chief Education Officer, stated that the Ministry has always encouraged professional development.
“It is important that teachers take time out and look at their profession, look at the way they teach …and so the Ministry encourages schools to take a day off and have a professional development session.”
Topics covered during the workshop included Technology in the classroom- A Practical Approach, Testing and Measurement, Conflict Resolution/Interpersonal Relations and Benefits for Civil Servants and Professional Deportment.