VSO NCERD workers Head Home

After two years in Guyana, Stephen Harding (Education Management Specialist), his wife Mary (Literacy Specialist) and Meg Caton (SEN Specialist) have returned home. This is what was said about them in the Guyana Chronicle PepperPot.....

VSO trio have headed home

Taking with them bittersweet memories
By Vanessa Narine
“We just booked our tickets, but we will be taking Guyana home in our hearts.”

These were the words of Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) volunteers Ms Meg Caton, Mr. Stephen Harding, and his wife Ms. Mary Harding; three individuals who, after meeting for the first time two years ago, have found fulfillment, fun and friends for life, as they served as volunteers based at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD).The three, who supported the Education Sector here with their various talents, are bound for the United Kingdom (UK) and will be leaving next Saturday as they set off to reunite with family, and experience new things.“I am going home to two grandchildren expected over the next few weeks,” Meg Caton said, bitter-sweet emotions emanating from her words.She described her experience here as everything from exciting, rewarding and amazing to challenging and new.

Working with Mary Harding in Curriculum Development, Meg conveyed the feeling of satisfaction that came from visiting schools all across Guyana and seeing children being happy to read.

“Seeing them use the materials we helped develop, and the joy they got from reading was extremely rewarding,” she said.However, besides the rewards of her professional stint in Guyana, Meg said she was delighted at being a part of the Guyanese culture, and the many major events that occurred during her stay here.Mary Harding echoed Meg’s sentiments, and singled out World Cup Cricket, the Caribbean Festival of the Creative Arts (CARIFESTA), plays at the Theatre Guild Playhouse and the National Cultural Centre; the celebration of Mashramani, Diwali, Phagwah and Christmas as being among the most enjoyable moments she’d had over the years.“The togetherness of the Guyanese people during these events, and the integration of everyone, regardless of religion, into the other’s celebrations exemplifies the country’s motto: ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny’,” Mary declared, excitement at the memory evident in her voice.She went on to say that not only did this spirit exist during playtime, but also during the course of work as working at NCERD involved teamwork as well as team spirit.“Working with curriculum development at NCERD was working as part of a team that was focused on improving literacy, and improving individual skills in Guyana in a mass literacy countrywide programme, the Fast Track Initiative (FTI), which targeted head teachers, practicing teachers and educators,” Mary said.Mary also said that apart from the oneness one felt, life here was very different from that of life in London, particularly the lifestyles of persons in the outlying areas of Guyana.Mary’s husband, Stephen, who worked in Education Management, echoed her sentiments, but added that while they had come with no idea of what to expect, they were, nevertheless, stunned.“The differences are countless, but one thing I appreciate very much is that Sundays in Guyana remains a day of rest.

The traffic lights blink amber throughout the day; Guyanese take time to go to their religious bodies; and Sundays are distinctly different,” Stephen said, seemingly lost contemplating the differences.His colleague, Meg, also recalled her many Sundays in Guyana, saying that in London, Sundays were just normal days.“Persons should try not to change Sundays, since it is a special time that some take for granted,” Meg said.Stephen continued his reminiscence as he pointed to one moment in several “special times” he experienced and said in all his years of work, never did he have a view of the ocean as he did while working with NCERD.“I had the perfect view of the Atlantic Ocean, and we could always tell before anyone when the rains were coming,” he recalled laughingly.Another special moment for him was the completion of a programme he wrote to assist in the training of School Managers, the Education Management Certificate Course, a programme that has seen over 350 graduates countrywide since its initiation.“There is a genuine thirst for knowledge in Guyana; people want to learn, especially now that the programme has activities to stimulate persons during the lectures,” Stephen said.

He said that since the fourth batch of school managers completed the 18-month course, over 600 individuals have expressed their interest in the programme, which it is hoped will continue as part of NCERD’s commitment to training.“The programme, which was developed in 1990 for schools in Africa, was now completely fitted to Guyana and its environment,” Stephen said proudly. “We have achieved far more than we had expected, and it is very satisfying.”The three agreed that while the two years they spent here simply “flew by,” the satisfaction they gained was well beyond their expectations, not just work-wise, but in other respects as well, particularly the Guyanese cuisine and of course Guyana’s tourist attractions.

“The best trips we had were our visits to the Kaieteur Falls and Shell Beach,” Mary said.Smiling, her husband, Stephen, recalled the occasion.

“Everything that could have gone wrong on the trip to Shell Beach went wrong, but we were laughing the entire time,” he said.Smiling too, Mary’s memories traced back to the trip, as she reminded her husband of the boat breaking down in the middle of nowhere but added that the experience was worth so much.“As much as we gave in our years as volunteers, we got back two-fold in so many other ways,” Meg said.So, leaving with the many experiences and fond memories gained while selflessly giving of themselves to serve other humans, in a strange land whose culture was alien to them, Meg, Mary and Stephen have exemplified the view that serving others brings its own rewards.Director of NCERD, Mr Mohandatt Goolsarran, gave the VSO volunteers another reward, in that he expressed his gratitude for their selfless support over the years.“They were very adaptable and produced quality work, while they became integrated within the system, providing professional skills and motivating teachers to strive for greater heights,” he said.

EMC Graduation Speech

Speech given by the Education Management Specialist at the EMC Graduation in Georgetown. 

Permit me for a moment to talk about my philosophy. Why are we here? What is the purpose of what we are we doing?

We must never forget the child who sits on the chair – sometimes we forget him / her. The children are the main reason why we do what we do. Let us look first of all at the teachers. The performance of teachers is a major factor in determining school effectiveness and learning outcomes. They play a pivotal role in enabling Guyana to realise its educational aspirations. If we fail in education and we fail the nation. Education is the key to success of the nation.

We need to remember that the child is a clean slate. He / she learns from the adults and other children around them. What they see, hear, experience is what they learn. What they learn in school moulds the type of adults they become. So what they see, learn and hear in school must be nothing less than quality. So, what you give them is what you get back in return in society. Teachers are the main learning resource in Guyana. They are the major agents in delivering educational reform. That is why we need to concentrate so much on our teachers

But even more so we need to concentrate on their supervisors, their managers, what you would call the administrators and I would call the leaders

A word about leaders. We have a grave responsibility here. What we do will affect all around us and especially the children. It is our duty to behave professionally and to be accountable to all who rely on us. That accountability is to yourself, our supervisors and especially the pupils and parents. None of them, let alone yourself, deserves second best. And the nation, in particular, doesn’t deserve second best. I see you being administrators third, managers second and leaders first. As a leader you have great power for good or for bad. The power invested in you is not for your own gratification but for the service of others. You are not just given power and do not deserve power by right but must earn it. That is the only way you will gain true respect. You earn power and influence by doing, following, leading and most of all being humble in what you do by respecting the rights, skills and knowledge of others

Ladies and gentlemen, you have shown by your determination, your steadfastness, your energy and your work that you are academically deserving of a leadership role. But that is only the start of the journey. You are already in a leadership role but soon enough these eminent people around you will make room for others and you are they.

I urge you not to take on the role lightly, to be aware of the vast responsibility for other people’s lives that you have and to be aware that not to carry out that responsibility to the best of you ability will have an effect on those around you and your community. You must also be aware that when you do take your duties seriously, you mould the nation’s children and thus mould the nation.

So look at some of the qualities you need to be a good leader

· Firstly the standards you set for yourself so that others will follow by example
· The humility to make mistakes and admit them, not blaming others
· The willingness to do yourself what you would ask others to do
· The ability to participate in others’ learning and facilitate it rather than direct it
· The readiness to give people the credit they deserve thus motivating them and keeping them on target
· The courage to make mistakes, to allow others to make mistakes and learn from them.
· Somebody once said “The great leaders are like the best orchestral conductors - they reach beyond the notes to reach the magic in the players.”

Your job is to get the magic from the teachers. We maybe can’t be all of these things, but we can try to be some of them. Another person once said “The talent of success is nothing more than doing what you can do, well.” And finally, I finish “Keep steadily before you the fact that all true success depends at last upon yourself.”

89 Teachers Graduate in the Education Management Programme in Georgetown

We are pleased to report that the biggest cohort of graduates from Georgetown met in the auditorium of Queens College for their graduation of the Education Management Programme. This is the largest group in the country and they were taught by 5 Master Trainers.

The programme started with the procession of the graduates to the march of the Guyana Police Band who later played a medley as part of the entertainment. Dressed in light blue and white silk capes, the graduates entered the hall to receive their certificates and prizes for the best performers.

It was a grand occasion with many well wishers, family, headteachers, teachers and officers of the Ministry of Education and the Georgetown Department of Education.

The proceedings were ably led by the chairperson for the day - the Headteacher of Winfer Gardens Primary School, herself a former graduate of the Programme. Stephen Harding, the Education Management Specialist and VSO from NCERD gave the overview of the programme and the certificates were presented by his wife Mary Harding (Literary Specialist) and Andrew Kartick from NCERD. The trophies were distributed by Mr Tiwari (DCEO ADMIN of the Ministry of Education) who also gave the feature address in the place of the Minister of Education,Honourable Shaik Baksh, who was unable to attend.

Trophies were awarded to the Best Graduating Students in Georgetown - Second Runner-up Shelly Anne Harris, the First Runner-up Samantha Williams and the best Graduating Student Sharon Smith. Ms Williams and Ms Smith received also the awards for the best graduating students in the whole country. Congratulations.

Along with songs, a dance and an excellent motivating poem from a student of North Ruimveldt Multilateral School, it was a memorable occasion.

If you wish to see all of the photographs from the graduation, please click on the picture below. If you have a slow connection, remember to give them time to load.

You can make the pictures bigger by clicking on the picture below.

Georgetown EMC Graduation

42 new graduates of the EMC in Region 5

No 29 Primary School in Region 5 was decked out to receive 42 new graduates of the Education Management Programme. The graduates had spent 18 months studying on the programme run by the Ministry of Education NCERD. It caters for serving and aspiring Headteachers.

The invited guests, family and friends and colleague Headteachers listened to the development of the Programme in the Region since it started 6 years ago. The number of graduates has almost doubled with each of the three cohorts and 97 have already applied for the next group to start later this month. One speaker quoted the longest serving master trainer Ms Ethlyn Kendall as saying some time ago that she wanted Education Management to become an "infectious disease" in the region. It certainly appears that way.

Addresses were made by the chairperson for the day, a former graduate of the programme, who ably led the proceedings, the Regional Chairman, the Regional Executive Officer and the REDO for Region 5. The presence of such eminent persons clearly indicates the importance placed on excellent leadership in the Region's schools. Mr Stephen Harding, Education Management Specialist and VSO responsible for the training of the programme, gave the feature address. He noted that the graduates were now academically prepared for a senior leadership role in a Guyanese school but that would only be the start of the journey. They need to show by their determination, practice and efforts to be worthy of the role. He placed great emphasis on earning respect rather than just expecting respect because they were in a leadership role.

Mrs Mary Harding, Literacy Specialist and VSO along with the Regional Executive Officer distributed the certificates and the trophies for the best performers. Mr Andrew Kartick from NCERD led the "Charge" with two poems which highlighted the importance of the child as an individual. Region 5 is now ready for the next round of the programme. Its master trainers are Mr Dyiaram Samaroo, Mr Harold Lewis, Ms Ethlyn Kendall and Ms Monica Fraser-Carmichael who, as Headteacher, allowed her school to be used for the Graduation.

Congratulations to the new Educational leaders of Region 5!

Motivating Children and Teachers

There are all sorts of things that motivate adults. They range from good salaries to favourable working conditions and promotion prospects to job satisfaction. But we all know that some of these are not easily provided. However, one of the biggest motivators is reward for a "job well done". It doesn't have to be a major ceremony in front of all one's colleagues but simply a word in a teacher's ear about something that they have done well, showing that you recognise it and appreciate him / her for doing it.

Some schools have been successful in rewarding teachers in a more formal way. For example, in one school, there are competitions for "Teacher of the Month", "Best Classroom" and even "Most improved punctuality and attendance" In this school, teachers strive to achieve those rewards which are presented each month in front of their colleagues. Another school presents them (not the attendance and punctuality ones) in assembly in front of the whole school and this also helps to motivate the children.

It doesn't have to cost money either. Just a simple certificate or even a letter will suffice showing how you feel about the work the member of staff is doing. These are easily made on a word processor if you have access to one. Think how you feel when somebody tells you that you have done well. Why not try it and let us know how you got on by making a comment from below?

It works even more so with children. But, stickers are expensive and not readily available in Guyana. So why not make some of your own? True, you will need access to a printer and a photocopier but it's worth the effort even if you are in an internet cafe reading this. It will only cost a few dollars and can be used again and again.

Children will work hard for a small reward and especially something they can stick in their books and show their parents. So, we're going to give you a headstart. We've prepared a few simple ones for you to download. They use Microsoft Word so they can be changed or edited as you wish. They are there for ideas. Also the children can colour them in to make them attractive.

Another idea is to have small posters with wording such as "Star of the Week", "Best Attender", "Best Punctuality" These are placed on the classroom wall and each week the name of a child is stuck onto it temporarily and replaced the next week. You can also do it as inter-class and whole school competitions.

So, why not use your imagination and create some of the resources for yourself to motivate your children. Here are some examples of what you might make.

Small Posters ............

Star of the Week Poster

Best Punctuality

Best Attender

Mini Certificates ..............

Well Done

Today's Best Worker

Star of the Week

I tried my best

Has worked well

Great Work

And small certificates...........

General Merit Certificate

If you find it was a successful strategy, just let us know by completing the comments below.

Applications for Education Management Programme

Applications

are invited from suitably qualified Headteachers,

Senior and Middle leaders in schools, Regional Education Staff and Officers of the Ministry of Education

Where to Apply

Guyana Ministry of Education

National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD)

Education Management Certificate Programme

The Programme is a Distance Education Course lasting 18 months, in two parts, covering every aspect of school leadership, leading to the Education Management Certificate.

Applicants must have significant experience and be working or have worked in the school education sector at least at Middle Leadership level (HOD, Level Head, SM, DHM or HM) or as a Regional or Ministry of Education Officer.

Application forms can be uplifted from the Regional Education Office or the Department of Education in Georgetown. They must be completed and endorsed by the REDO / PEO.

Teaching Quotations

The job of an educator is to teach students to see the vitality in themselves. Joseph Campbell

I am not a teacher, but an awakener.

Robert Frost

Where there is an open mind there will always be a frontier.

Charles F. Kettering

Teachers open the door. You enter by yourself.

Chinese Proverb

Awaken people's curiosity. It is enough to open minds, do not overload them. Put there just a spark.

Anatole France

Life is amazing: and the teacher had better prepare himself to be a medium for that amazement. Edward Blishen

It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.

Albert Einstein

An understanding heart is everything in a teacher, and cannot be esteemed highly enough. One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feeling. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.

Carl Jung

I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.

Socrates

The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery.

Van Doren

Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.

Henry Ford

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.

William Arthur Ward

What the teacher is, is more important than what he teaches.

Soren Kierkegaard

Good teaching is more a giving of right questions than a giving of right answers.

Josef Albers

We think of the effective teachers we have had over the years with a sense of recognition, but those who have touched our humanity we remember with a deep sense of gratitude

Anonymous Student

Whatever you teach, be brief; what is quickly said the mind readily receives and faithfully retains, while everything superfluous runs over as from a full container. Who knows much says least.

Author Unknown

Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.

Thomas A. Kempis

Who dares to teach must never cease to learn.

John C. Dana

If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher's job.

Donald D. Quinn

Teachers who inspire know that teaching is like cultivating a garden, and those who would have nothing to do with thorns must never attempt to gather flowers.

Author Unknown

Teachers who inspire realize there will always be rocks in the road ahead of us. They will be stumbling blocks or stepping stones; it all depends on how we use them.

Author Unknown

One must learn by doing the thing; for though you think you know it, you have no certainty, until you try.

Sophocles

The aim of education should be to teach us rather how to think, than what to think--rather to improve our minds, so as to enable us to think for ourselves, than to load the memory with thoughts of other men.

Bill Beattie

He who asks a question may be a fool for five minutes. But he who never asks a question remains a fool forever.

Tom J. Connelly

GOOD TEACHING: THE TOP TEN REQUIREMENTS

The following article was written by By Richard Leblanc, York University, Ontario. It is an interesting view on the requirements of the classroom teacher. We thank him for his insight.

One

Good teaching is as much about passion as it is about reason. It's about not only motivating students to learn, but teaching them how to learn, and doing so in a manner that is relevant, meaningful, and memorable. It's about caring for your craft, having a passion for it, and conveying that passion to everyone, most importantly to your students.

Two

Good teaching is about substance and treating students as consumers of knowledge. It's about doing your best to keep on top of your field, reading sources, inside and outside of your areas of expertise, and being at the leading edge as often as possible. But knowledge is not confined to scholarly journals. Good teaching is also about bridging the gap between theory and practice. It's about leaving the ivory tower and immersing oneself in the field, talking to, consulting with, and assisting practitioners, and liaisoning with their communities.

Three

Good teaching is about listening, questioning, being responsive, and remembering that each student and class is different. It's about eliciting responses and developing the oral communication skills of the quiet students. It's about pushing students to excel; at the same time, it's about being human, respecting others, and being professional at all times.

Four

Good teaching is about not always having a fixed agenda and being rigid, but being flexible, fluid, experimenting, and having the confidence to react and adjust to changing circumstances. It's about getting only 10 percent of what you wanted to do in a class done and still feeling good. It's about deviating from the course syllabus or lecture schedule easily when there is more and better learning elsewhere. Good teaching is about the creative balance between being an authoritarian dictator on the one hand and a pushover on the other.

Five

Good teaching is also about style. Should good teaching be entertaining? You bet! Does this mean that it lacks in substance? Not a chance! Effective teaching is not about being locked with both hands glued to a podium or having your eyes fixated on a slide projector while you drone on. Good teachers work the room and every student in it. They realize that they are the conductors and the class is the orchestra. All students play different instruments and at varying proficiencies.

Six

This is very important -- good teaching is about humor. It's about being self-deprecating and not taking yourself too seriously. It's often about making innocuous jokes, mostly at your own expense, so that the ice breaks and students learn in a more relaxed atmosphere where you, like them, are human with your own share of faults and shortcomings.

Seven

Good teaching is about caring, nurturing, and developing minds and talents. It's about devoting time, often invisible, to every student. It's also about the thankless hours of grading, designing or redesigning courses, and preparing materials to still further enhance instruction.

Eight

Good teaching is supported by strong and visionary leadership, and very tangible institutional support -- resources, personnel, and funds. Good teaching is continually reinforced by an overarching vision that transcends the entire organization -- from full professors to part-time instructors -- and is reflected in what is said, but more importantly by what is done.

Nine

Good teaching is about mentoring between senior and junior faculty, teamwork, and being recognized and promoted by one's peers. Effective teaching should also be rewarded, and poor teaching needs to be remediated through training and development programmes.

Ten

At the end of the day, good teaching is about having fun, experiencing pleasure and intrinsic rewards ... like locking eyes with a student in the back row and seeing the synapses and neurons connecting, thoughts being formed, the person becoming better, and a smile cracking across a face as learning all of a sudden happens. Good teachers practice their craft not for the money or because they have to, but because they truly enjoy it and because they want to. Good teachers couldn't imagine doing anything else.

Master Trainers' Workshop

We are pleased to report that the Workshop for Master Trainers for the Education Management Programme held in NCERD was a great success.

28 Master Trainers from all over the country attended the 5 day workshop facilitated by Stephen Harding (Education Managemner Specialist) and his wife Mary Harding (Curriculum Specialist) Both are VSOs working in NCERD.

Although there was some educational theory, the activities were mainly of a practical nature relating to schools. The principle theme was one of “Proactive Leadership” and how Headteachers, through their own practice can influence the direction of a school in a positive way. Great emphasis was placed on the “expectations” of Headteachers and the “accountability of all in the system.

We were able to have frank and open discussions about the current situation relating to the education system in Guyana and have focused on solutions and overall principles. These principles have been embraced by the participants

The attendance and participation was excellent and the Master Trainers have displayed a passionate and informed desire for improvement of the system through the provision of support for all staff at every level. It is clear that they have welcomed and embraced many of the changes and suggestions given in the last training session.

In the results of the last cohort of trainees, there was a pass rate in excess of 94% - the best ever. The average score was higher than any other previous year The examination focused much more on skills and evaluation rather than simply recall of information. The best performers were in regions away from Georgetown in Regions 6, 10 & 3

We all now feel that there is a need for all officers of the Ministry of Education and Regional Departments of Education to take a greater ownership of the course, its management and organization and support of its participants.

On the final day, we were please to have received the Honourable Minister of education, Mr Shaik Baksh who gave us his views on the programme and the educational provision in Guyana as a whole. This was reported on NCN News and in several newspapers.

The text of the article published in the Guyana Chronicle on Saturday 9th August is given below:-

Aiming for higher standards…Baksh warns education non-performers will be fired

By Tajeram Mohabir (EDUCATION)

Minister Shaik Baksh yesterday announced that measures are being put in place to fire all non-performers at the different levels in his ministry.

He made the announcement at the conclusion of a five-day master trainers workshop in the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) in Kingston, Georgetown.
Taking a touch line, he told the group of senior teachers that, while there are few effective managers in the education system, too many have a lackadaisical approach to work. He said headteachers and regional education officers need to adjust their attitude to create the change necessary for propelling the sector to a higher plain or leave their jobs.

Baksh emphasised that the majority of headteachers are reactive rather than proactive and seminars like the one just concluded are a salient effort to reverse their behaviour. He exhorted the trainers to be aggressive change agents and said they would not be working alone because a newly established team of education inspectors will assist them to address the many deficiencies in the schools.

Baksh encouraged the trainers to be self-motivated and channel their energies to alter the mindset of teachers, so they give of their best and produce the desired results. He said, for the education system to succeed, teachers will have to demonstrate a sense of commitment and dedication. The minister said the argument about work according to pay is grossly ridiculous and declared that teachers engaged in the practice lack the slightest idea of the danger they are causing to children’s lives.

Baksh said his ministry recognises the need to upgrade salaries and has been doing all within its means to ensure proper remuneration and appealed for a sense of patriotism and a passion for change in return. Those values should be enforced by the Guyana Teachers' Union (GTU) but, apparently, the latter is only is clamouring for increases in pay, Baksh stated.

He indicated that the teachers who were trained in the education management programme will also have to fill a similar role and his ministry will be looking forward to the feedback on the strides made. Baksh said the Central Ministry has already been reformed and emphasis is now being placed on the regional and school systems to ensure operational efficiency. He pledged to do all within his limit to make sure his ministry functions and delivers effectively at every level before he demits office. Baksh underscored the importance of the capacity building workshop, pointing out that it will significantly aid teachers to positively reform their schools and impart their knowledge to colleagues through similar workshops and seminars. He expressed optimism that the trained teachers will produce quality results that would serve as a catalyst to instill values of high standards in headteachers and teachers who are incapable of effecting positive changes.

Baksh commended the facilitators of the workshop, Mr. Stephen Harding and his wife, Mrs. Mary Harding, for their sterling contributions towards updating the Education Management Programme which is designed to meet the needs of the system.
Mr. Harding said those trained were acting headteachers and senior teachers drawn from the 10 Administrative Regions.The Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) volunteer said the teachers were engaged in mostly practical work, intended to make them adopt a proactive stance in problem solving, planning and implementation. Harding said the focus was on the expectation of headteachers and accountability to all in the school system. He proposed that the programme be prolonged for another few years, so that all headteachers will benefit.

Harding disclosed that 350 of them graduated from it this year.