SCHOOLS are scheduled to re-open in just over a week, and in the meantime, teachers are being exposed to various activities; more importantly they are accessing training.
The most recent of these currently in a week-long workshop to address the improvement of classroom management are 70 teachers are from across the regions of Guyana. The sessions are being held at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD).
The rationale behind the course is that practicing teachers would be exposed to effective classroom management, at both the secondary and primary levels, and in turn promote productive classroom skills.
One of the facilitators, Peter Wintz, told the Guyana Chronicle that the system has trained teachers, but one thing that is lacking is effective classroom management.
Also the Senior Subject Specialist in Mathematics at NCERD, he pointed out that the objectives are to provide an enabling learning environment for classroom practitioners to develop current and relevant knowledge, skills and attitudes for effective and efficient classroom management; and to enable the practitioners to demonstrate a working understanding of, and employ conflict resolution strategies.
Among the areas covered are environmental management, curriculum management, student behaviour management, and managing student performance.
The use of information technology was also a key area touched on during the workshop.
Wintz said, “The ultimate aim is to improve the performance at the Grade Six and CSEC (Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate) exams.”
The consensus among the participants was that the workshop is effective and the skills that they were exposed to, once transferred to the respective schools, will go a long way in impacting advancement.
One participant, Sirnarine Ramroop, from New Campbellville Secondary School in Georgetown, said the workshop exposed the teachers to new techniques.
“We learnt new techniques, for example, how to motivate students, especially in the four core subject areas, with emphasis on Mathematics,” he said.
Ramroop added that the new approaches to improving both the teaching and learning process will significantly impact the work currently being done.
Another participant from Vryman’s Erven Secondary School, Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne), Bernadette Shepherd reiterated these sentiments.
She added that the new approaches will touch all aspects of school life, and in the long run, improve performance – which is essentially the purpose of the workshop.
From Harmony Secondary School, Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Berbice), Sharon Williams said being exposed to new methodologies will facilitate a skills transfer.
“When I get back to Harmony, what I learn will be passed on to the other teachers and together we can work in getting the maximum output from our students,” she said.
Williams added that the workshop, a refresher course for her, is a step in the right direction as the Education Sector continues to seek improvements.