Call for more men in teaching as Erdiston honours top graduates

Calls for urgent reform and greater male participation in the nation’s classrooms echoed through Erdiston Teachers’ Training College this week, as six top graduates were recognised for their achievements and shared candid insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the island’s education system.

At a ceremony, Deputy Principal Francis Thompson issued a heartfelt appeal for more male participation in the teaching profession.

He declared: “We desperately, I cannot overstate, desperately need more males in the educational space . . . to be able to mentor and nurture our children.”

He praised the two male graduates present, noting the value of their commitment to the teaching profession.

Among the awardees was Keandre Doughty, top graduate in the in-service certificate programme for art, music and physical education. He shared his appreciation for the hybrid learning model that combined online and in-person classes.

The physical education teacher also enjoyed the interactions with other cultures and the integration of technology, saying: “You learn about different cultures in school, how teachers handle secondary school teachers and how primary school teachers handle the, the little ones and stuff like that and in different areas and how you have to react, you know, to certain stuff and things like that.”

He added: “We had a course to learn about how to implement technology into the classroom, how to use your video camera and it wasn’t it just like talk and teach.”

Doughty shared that his course taught various arts, not only physical education.

Doughty also expressed a strong desire to pursue further training in special education, stating: “I really want to do this special needs, because you know you’re talking about education reform and there are a lot of children in the community . . . that’s something I would like to do, being that I’m a PE teacher. I would like to know how to handle those children on the outside.”

Top graduate of the bachelor’s in primary education, Shamel Edwards, emphasised the course’s relevance and evolving approach.

She said: “What I love about this degree programme . . . I think of the word ‘relevance’. It made me up to date with trends in education.” Edwards celebrated the collaborative spirit of the programme, adding: “There was that support you felt amongst your colleagues… that for me was a highlight.”

She also advocated for differentiated assessment, remarking: “I believe there’s more than one way to assess . . . try to be relevant and cater to our kids’ needs.”

Shaunette Small, valedictorian and top graduate of the postgraduate diploma in educational leadership, was visibly moved by her journey.

“I dreaded what it would be like,” she confessed, “but right now, at present, I’m the valedictorian . . . so you can imagine how surprised I am.” Small, who returned to studies after more than two decades, credited her success to dedication and the memory of a beloved tutor, stating: “I dedicate this honour to her.”

She added: “There is a need for transformation, but it is up to us . . . to ensure our children benefit.”

She believes education has a major role to play. “We are preparing children to be global leaders wherever they go, and it is up to us to ensure that at the end of the day, we can sit back and say, I am pleased and am proud of what I did because those will be the legacy that we have for the future.”

Richelle Vaughan-Seale, who completed the diploma in primary education, said she chose the programme to enhance her teaching skills. Describing her experience as a “roller coaster”, Vaughan-Seale shared how she balanced studies with getting married and managing work responsibilities. She was grateful for the help of assessors, saying: “Even though they were coming to evaluate you, they also still assisted me with ideas.” She said the programme was “very fulfilling”.

Krystal Byer, the top graduate in technical and vocational education (adult education), admitted that she was initially hesitant and intimidated. “Coming into that, it was very scary for me.” But, she found comfort in the class community: “The tutors, they were exceptional… we all became one big family.” Reflecting on her journey, she said: “Now I feel a sense of fulfilment.”

Rounding out the group was Rollinson Wiggins, the top graduate in the postgraduate diploma in education (secondary). A musician and IT specialist by training, Wiggins said: “Teaching was not necessarily on my radar.”

Yet, his experience in the programme sharpened his teaching abilities.

“It has indeed for sure made me a better person, caused things to be a lot sharper,” he shared. Wiggins credited his family and support system, stating: “I’m not brought to this achievement by myself.”

Wiggins described how he incorporates technology into his classroom to enhance learning and engage his students in innovative ways, acknowledging the crucial role that digital tools play in education.

(LG)