Education Ministry aims to improve leadership skills of teachers

The Ministry of Education has organised a three-day Leadership Conference aimed at discussing the review of schools’ curriculum, strengthen teachers’ leadership abilities and examine models of accountability for school systems.

The conference targets primary level head-teachers and regional education officers from regions across the country.

Chief Education Officer (CEO) Marcel Hutson at the opening of the conference this morning at Duke Lodge, said the workshop is in response to the challenges and needs of the education system. According to the Ministry’s data on regional challenges, there is a major inadequacy of trained teachers at all levels and a weakness in teachers’ professional development.

Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry, in delivering the feature address, said the conference will provide training on leadership concepts, theories and approaches utilised in the delivery of public education.

Minister Henry said, at the end of the activity, educators should evaluate their own style of leadership. She explained that there is a great need for leadership styles that motivate others towards achieving their goals and realising their full potential.

“Our young people, our next set of nation builders are counting on all of us in this room,” she said.

According to the Conference’s agenda, the first day of training will focus on global changes to local settings in Guyana.

Day two will focus on the review of the schools’ curriculum and discuss areas should as “what should we teach, what should the curriculum prepare young people for and how should education leaders collaborate with business leaders t prepare young people for life and work.”

On the last day, teachers are expected to discuss the pros and cons of the implementation models for leadership development around the topics covered throughout the conference.

The conference will also feature a panel which will include the CEO, former Education Minister Dr Henry Jeffery, UG’s Vice-Chancellor Ivelaw Griffith, and CARICOM’s Jennifer Britton and Myrna Bernard.