All untrained teachers must enroll at CPCE

All untrained teachers, including those employed, are now required to enroll at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) without delay, a memorandum issued on Friday by the Ministry of Education stated.

The memo was signed by Chief Education Officer Dr Marcel Hutson.

The ministry said all untrained teachers can now apply at the appropriate level and programme. It must be noted that failure to enroll in CPCE “may result in the Ministry’s inability to continue the employment of the persons so failing.”

Importantly, the ministry has withdrawn the in-service one-year requirement for teachers with immediate effect.

This means that before the memo, teachers had to be teaching in the system for about one year before applying to the CPCE. Now, they can apply as soon as they start teaching.

“It is important to note that the criterion requiring the employment of in-service teachers for one year before entering CPCE is hereby withdrawn,” the memo said.

The ministry said that these measures are in keeping with the objective to have all teachers trained.

The measures are also aimed at improving accountability and efficiency in the classroom, improving performance at all levels, and reducing inequities in the classroom.