Minister of Education – Nigel Carty
Photo By Erasmus Williams
Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
May 03, 2011 (SKNIS)
Minister of Education Hon. Nigel Carty announced in an address to the Nation at the start of Education Week that school principals and Heads of Academic Departments are now completing the first set of Teacher Appraisal Instruments which will be a requirement for educators throughout the system.
Minister Carty said his Ministry identified the needs to establish a robust framework for performance appraisal and evaluation at all levels of the education system in keeping with the objectives of the White Paper on Education, which closely links students’ performance to teacher capacity.
The minister explained that this directive was guided by the principle that what gets measured gets done: and what doesn’t get measured, gets forgotten.” He added that through concerted planning, consultation and training activities, the ministry was able to roll out a cadre of individuals with skills to develop the appropriate appraisal instruments.
While teacher performance is being measured, the Minister emphasized that they are also being given the tools to ensure that they can maximize their success in teaching. This includes the simulation of clinical supervision activities which aim at providing the necessary interactive, in-class support for teachers, as well as the identification of areas in which professional development may be needed.
“These interventions are useful for providing well-needed support for new teachers in particular. However, they also serve to ensure that trained and experienced teachers keep up-to-date with new methodologies and maintain a satisfactory level of performance in teaching of their respective subjects,” said Minister Carty.
The theme for the 2011 Education Week is “New standards, New Opportunities, New Successes,” is an active reality in the Ministry which summarizes and encapsulates its vision.