Government offers new post-grad teacher training
(CNS): The education department is on the hunt for exceptional people to become teachers. Starting in September, in partnership with the University of Sunderland in the UK and the University College of the Cayman Islands, the department will be offering a new teacher training programme as part of the Ministry’s “TeachCayman” initiative. One of the goals of that initiative is to attract high-performing individuals to the teaching profession. Students will follow an internationally recognised, on-line programme leading to the Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) which will be complemented by specially designed workshops.
Cetonya Cacho, the Co-ordinator for Initial Teacher Training, who is on secondment to the Ministry from her post as principal of Bodden Town Primary school said it was an internationally recognised qualification. “It is aligned with the Cayman Islands National Curriculum and will prepare teachers who meet the Cayman Islands National Professional Standards for Teachers,” she added.
The course is a one-year, full-time programme, designed to prepare new teachers for the primary years in Cayman Islands schools. The course is intended to attract Caymanians but non-Caymanians will be considered. Applicants must have at least a Bachelor’s Degree with an overall GPA of 3.0 in their undergraduate studies or a 2.2 honours degree. No prior teaching experience is necessary as teaching experience will be a key part of the programme organised and supported by the Ministry.
“Teaching is a most honourable profession and one that should be respected and valued,’ said the education minister, Rolston Anglin. “It is also a profession in which we need to see more young Caymanians. As a result, my ministry felt that it was important that a high quality teaching qualification should be provided locally. I encourage all those who wish to pursue teaching as a career to consider this opportunity and apply for this course.”
Chief Officer in the Ministry, Mary Rodrigues explained that the University of Sunderland has substantial experience in delivering on-line Initial Teacher Training programmes in a number of different countries. It has been quality assured by OfSTED.
“It is a very flexible and accessible way of following a PGCE programme. Alongsideof their academic studies, student teacherswill spend a substantial amount of time based in a Cayman Islands school practising their teaching skills and will be supported individually by a designated, trained, mentor who is an experienced classroom teacher,” she said.
Applications for this course are now being accepted. Application forms and all the details of the course can be found on the Ministry of Education’s website: www.education.gov.ky. Alternatively, interested persons can email teachcayman@gov.ky or call 244-5736 or 244-5724 for more information. The application deadline is Friday July 13, 2012.
Category: Local News
Finally I can say – here is one good thing that the UDP did!
Rollie is doing a fairly good job, despite the occasional night out on the town…
So sad for you to tinge an otherwise positive comments with such pettiness.
Pettiness is what has always held our country back.
To correct your statement, the Minister of Education is doing an excellent job. When people are doing a good job we need to keep them there, because we know what we have but we surely don't know what we might get.
It is surely good to see that something is being done to encourage teachers to a noble profession, but what is being done to keep teachers who are trained and dedicated to the profession? It is time that teachers' aides are given the opportunity to get qualified. There are far too many teachers' aides in the class room, and one wonders why the level of education is so low. It is easy to employ teachers' aides at a very low salary and contimue to bring in teachers on contracts and forget about the locally trained teachers.