The creation of master teachers is among several policies the Ministry of Education is rolling out to tackle issues highlighted by educators since last year, according to the Chief Education Officer, Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw.
Archer-Bradshaw told the opening of a gender education workshop organised by the Caribbean Union of Teachers on Monday at the Barbados Beach Club in Maxwell of the initiatives her ministry was implementing to deal with the concerns of teachers.
The ministry had developed a strategy to tackle the burning issues that consultations raised a year ago, she told the gathering.
“In May last year, we had several consultations and we had more consultations in October. Teachers said that within the teaching profession, there isn’t much upward mobility. In order for a teacher to move up in the system that teacher has to become a senior teacher, a year head or a principal; they move away from the classroom. One of the things that we worked arduously towards was the creation of a master teacher track. It was one of the things called for by the Barbados Secondary Teachers Union and supported by the Barbados Union of Teachers.
“Today I am happy to say that that master teacher track has been developed with applications that are currently before the Ministry of Public Service for review. This track provides teachers with a pathway for upward mobility while allowing them to further develop their pedagogical skills as mentors and coaches to other teachers.”
Archer-Bradshaw added that educators also complained that the schools across the island were not conducive to learning and teaching as they should be. She reminded the audience that the ministry had organised a modern school infrastructure design competition and was collaborating with the XQ Institute in the United States to upgrade the school facilities.
The chief education officer said teachers also complained about the length of time it took to resolve matters involving them and announced that the ministry was looking to establish a teaching service commission by the end of the year. She said plans were already in motion to see that the commission is formed.
The workshop, which runs until Thursday, aims to develop young trade union leaders and highlight the importance of gender education. About 27 people from 11 Caribbean countries have registered to take part.
On Tuesday, Senator Chad Blackman, Minister of Economic Affairs, met and engaged the young leaders on the second day of the workshop.
(SZB)
