THE Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) in partnership with the Ministry of Education and with support from the ExxonMobil Foundation on Monday launched the Guyana STELLAR programme, an initiative that focuses on STEM teacher training.
STELLAR, in this case, means “STEM Teacher training, Enhancing Learning, Leadership and Academic Rigor.”
Marked as another important step in the transformation of education in Guyana, the launch of this associate degree in STEM education programme at the CPCE is the first-of-its-kind in not only the Caribbean, but also in the Southern Hemisphere, and is said to be a response to a clear national reality: Guyana is changing, and our education system must change with it.
By investing in STEM-focused teacher training, the college is contributing significantly to improving the quality of teachers’ work.
Therefore, teacher training plays a critical role in ensuring that STEM education is effectively delivered in our schools. Teacher candidates in the CPCE should be exposed to modern teaching strategies, digital technologies, practical investigations, engineering and science, and mathematics-based problem solving.
Through hands-on activities, future teachers will be able to learn how to make STEM subjects more engaging, relevant, and accessible to all students. Well-trained teachers will also be able to help students develop curiosity and competence in areas that are essential for future careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The programme initially had 70 listed candidates. However, only 62 attended a training session hosted by the college on Monday.
Delivering the feature address, Minister of Education, Sonia Parag said that this first cohort is part of an important part of our history in education.
STEM education, she said, is going to revolutionise education for the future. It revolves around science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
“You’re going to be in a good place at a good time when this is going to not only allow you to teach, but it’s going to allow you to participate fully in this transformation that is taking place, and that’s exactly what we want, because somebody said that you can have talent, but you don’t always have opportunities,” the minister said.
Continuing, she noted that the entire point of making education accessible, and building the infrastructure is to improve the quality of education. She said, “Now we’re moving to ensure that we can revolutionise, but also improve the quality of education, so it’s not just physical anymore. It’s ensuring that what you are going to obtain is going to prepare you to become globally competitive, and that is exactly where I need to go. We need to lead in many things, not just oil. We need to lead in education as well.”
The minister encouraged this first cohort to remain focused and be involved in the learning process.
“Do it with zest. Get up every day. Say to yourselves that you are going to make it in whichever part of that programme you’re at, and do it because that will work for you, and you will be very successful because that’s why we need you to be successful. You have to pass on the information,” the minister said.
