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!

Region 4 & Region 8 meet for Graduation

Diamond Secondary School was the host for the Graduates of the Education Management Certificate Programme in Region 4 in their graduation exercise on Monday 6th October 2008.

Along with the 55 graduates who completed the course were two teachers from Region 8 who chose to receive their certificates and awards in town rather than in Paramakatoi. Mr Udho, Master Trainer and former Education Officer led the procedings, introducing the chairperson who was a former graduate of the Programme. The guest speaker was the Education Management Specialist from NCERD, Mr Stephen Harding. He was introduced by Nichola Matthews, a Master Trainer, Headteacher and former graduate, who in a previous year had been the top of her class.

Ms Cheryl Cyrus gave the Vote of Thanks after the graduands received their certificates and the highest performers were given trophies.

To see the photographs, please click on the picture below:-

Region # 4 Graduation

To see the report of the graduation in Region Two, click here

Graduation in Region Two

The Education Management Programme is going from strength to strength in Region Two. This was the region which piloted the programme in 2000 and is about to start with its fifth cohort of trainees. It was also the first region to hold its graduation which coincided with Education Month.

The Graduation, which was held at Anna Regina Multilateral School was introduced by the Chairperson Ms Yvonne Castello, who is also one of the Master Trainers on the course whose group of trainees come from the Pomeroon River. An overview of the Programme was given by Mr Maydha Persaud who is another Master Trainer and Commissioner of the Teaching Service Commission as well as retired Headteacher. The Education Management Specialist from NCERD , who is a VSO from England, gave the Feature Address and urged the graduates to remain steadfast in displaying their leadership skills so as to lead schools successfully through the first half of the 20th Century.

All of the three groups of graduates, which numbered 42 in all, offered a cultural piece to the audience of well wishers, regional officials, Headteachers, teachers, family and friends. Certificates were distributed and prizes were given to the best performers. The top scoring graduate, Laljeet Ruplall offered the Vote of Thanks and the Charge was given by the country's top performing graduate in 2006, Sandra Narine.

The Graduation was attended by, amongst others, the Region's Head of the Education Department, Mr Bardewan Ghir Rambarran, the Regional Executive Officer, Mr Sunil Singh and the Vice Chairman of Region Two, Mr Vishnu Samaroo.

Group 3 Representative performs a poem about "Motivation". Other groups offered a poem and a song and a sketch on "Leadership Styles".


To see all of the photographs of this Graduation, click on the photograph below:-

Mr Mayda Persaud gave an overview of the Programme

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.

Resources Exhibition at NCERD

Many persons involved in the Leadership of schools took the time when in Georgetown to visit the Resources Exhibition in NCERD which was opened by the Honourable Minister of Education Shaik Baksh. We must thank, in particular, the Head of the Learning Resource Development Unit of NCERD, Rajwantie Permaul and her team for setting up the exhibition.

In his keynote address, the Minister made a number of important comments. He talked about the expansion of NCERD  as a training agency and, in particular a training initiative for all in the education sector which was being prepared to roll out in the next twelve months.

He was particularly clear about the need for senior educational leaders, especially in the Ministry of Education to go into schools on a more regular basis in order to develop the education system. He had been concerned also about the way resources had often not been used and had been locked away in cupboards. He promise action "to unlock the cupboards".

The Chief Education Officer (ag), Genievieve Whyte-Nedd urged teachers to use resources in the classroom as educational tools to promote learning rather tha simply to decorate classrooms.

We can all learn from this. We have been clear in NCERD about the need for a reduction in bureaucracy which will lead to Headteachers and Senior Leaders in schools being able to leave their offices, manage and lead by walking about and, in particular, advise teachers on how to improve the quality of learning and teaching in their classrooms. We will all accept that a good learning environment is paramount in providing the appropriate atmosphere in which children will learn.

The Opening was reported on NCN news and other channels. You will find extracts below, courtesy of GINA. You will note that a new Primary Resource Room was set up in NCERD alongside the existing one for Nursery Schools. This work was done by Ms Florence Sukhdeo (BEAMS Nursery Adsviser) in conjunction with VSO.

"A four- day exhibition on learning resources was declared opened today by Minister of Education Shaik Baksh at the National Centre for Education and Resource Development (NCERD), Kingston as part of the activities for the observance of Education Month under the theme ‘Education of the child: a parent and teacher obligation’.Minister Baksh noted that the Ministry of Education is aiming towards a special programme for continuous professional development of teachers throughout the school system which will be commencing during the latter part of 2009 as it would require preparation and designing.He said that the programme will be in collaboration with the Ministry’s Fast Track Initiative(FTI) programme.

Minister Baksh pointed out that a second new policy decision of the Ministry deals with the setting up of a National Committee for open and distance learning. A consultant has already been identified to develop that policy which will straddle all the sectors of the education system.

The Minister reiterated that government has spent $2.5 billion over the past three years in providing learning resources to the educational sector.He said under the five years of the strategic education plan, there is an aim to have Information Technology taught in 50 percent of the Primary Schools and also in the Secondary and Post- Secondary institutions of Guyana.

Minister Baksh urged that literature should be a compulsory subject for the Science and Business streams at schools to enhance students’ reading ability. He also urged that reading tents should be set up at least once every month in areas across Georgetown and once a month in each Region to encourage reading and learning throughout Guyana.Head of the Learning Resource Development Unit of NCERD, Rajwantie Permaul said that “learning resources are information represented and stored in a variety of medium and format can assist students’ learning as defined by the curricula.” Permaul said that “learning resources are intended for use by teachers, students and parents to foster learning both at school and at home.

Chief Education Officer (ag), Genevieve Whyte-Nedd said that the collaboration of stakeholders is often encouraged but that this year the main focus is on parents. Whyte-Nedd pointed out that the learning resources cut across various subjects but it is important that they are multi-centered.

“This is very important for our teachers and parents since many children do not learn from a single mould. Some learn fast from audio, some from video and others from a combination”, she said.

The exhibition is scheduled to run from today September 9 to September 12 starting from 9:00 am daily at NCERD. It aims to sensitize the public on the type of learning materials available for the teachers and parents to help their children in their pursuit of knowledge towards a career, to expose teachers to the best practices in the classroom, to help teachers and parents to improve their teaching skills at school and home, and to expose teachers to innovative technology that can be used in the classroom to create opportunities."

An example of a classroom display used as a learming tool for story writing

Warm-Up Activities for Teaching sessions

The following warm-up activities, sometimes called energizers are often used at the beginning of a session or when you feel that things need livening up because there is not much enthusiasm. They are meant to be enjoyed and fun rather than educative.

Long lost relative
As a group,
1) Ask each person to turn to the person on their right and greet him/her as if they really didn't want to be there. Yeah, you know what I mean - you can't wait to get out of there!
2) Then everyone (simultaneously to create lots of fun and excitement) turn to the same person and greet him/her as if (s)he is a long lost, deeply loved relative who has just returned home and you're about to see the person for the first time in years! In fact, you thought you may never see this person again until this very moment.
3) Now ask everyone (again simultaneously) to turn to the same person and greet him/her as if this person just told you that you won the state lottery for 50 million dollars and you have the ONLY winning ticket!

Ball toss
Have everyone stand up and form a resemblance of a circle. It does not have to be perfect, but they should all be facing in, looking at each other. Toss a ball to a person and have them tell what they thought was “the most important learning concept” was relating to the Module on Self development for Educational Leaders. They then toss the ball to someone and that person explains what they thought was the most important concept. Continue the exercise until quite a few caught the ball at least once and explained an important concept of the material just covered.

Change after a while to “The most difficult concept”

Circle of FriendsForm two large circles (or simply form two lines side by side), one inside the other and have the people in the inside circle face the people in the outside circle. Ask the circles to take one step in the opposite directions, allowing them to meet each new person as the circle continues to move very slowly. If lines are formed, they simply keep the line moving very slowly, as they introduce themselves and tell each other the following:
o The best thing that happened to me professionally
o The worst thing that happened to me professionally

Point, Nod, and Walk Have participants stand in a circle so they can make eye contact with everyone. Do not talk during this warm-up. Point to someone. When they acknowledge you with a nod, you may walk to their place. The individual that nodded to you must point to someone else and receive a nod before they can move. Adjust your pace so you get to the place after it has been vacated rather than while the individual that nodded to you is still there. After the group feels comfortable, you can speed up the pace or give them the option of shaking their heads instead of nodding. Explain to them that they are working as an ensemble. The object is to accomplish tasks together regardless of difficulty.

Magic Wand
¨ If you had a magic wand, what would you change? This is an icebreaker that opens minds, considers possibilities, and energizes the group.
¨ Participants are given 5 minutes to think of three things they would like to change about education in Guyana.
¨ First person takes the wand and waves it and tells the rest what they would change
¨ This person gives the wand to another of their choice who does the same thing.
¨ This is repeated about fifteen times

2 Truths & a Lie
¨ People write down two truths about themselves and a lie. Then introduce the three "facts" to the rest of the group who tries to guess which one is a lie.
¨ Facilitator gives an example
¨ People are encouraged to be sensible and funny or even outrageous
¨ The rest of the group votes on the one they think is a lie
¨ If the group gets it wrong, the liar is the winner.

Have You Ever?¨ The facilitator explains that he/she will call out different things that may or may not apply to each person. If the item does apply to you, then run into the middle, jump in the air, and do a high 5 with anyone else who runs in.
¨ List of Possible "Have Your Ever?" Items:
¨ Have you ever climbed to the highest point in your country of birth?
¨ Have you ever lived overseas for more than 1 year?
¨ Have you ever had a trainee who didn’t hand in his / her work on time?
¨ Have you ever sung karaoke?
¨ Have you ever been without a shower for more than 1 week?
¨ Do you have both a brother and a sister?
¨ Have you ever ridden a horse?
¨ Have you ever gone to work in a canoe?
¨ Have you ever eaten frogs' legs?
¨ Can you speak 2 or more languages?
¨ Have you ever been in love with someone who was vegetarian?
¨ Have you swum in 2 or more different oceans?
¨ Have you ever flown an airplane?
¨ Have you broken 3 or more bones in your body?
¨ Have you ever put more hot pepper sauce on your meal than you wanted?
¨ Have you done volunteer work sometime in the last month?
¨ Have you ever free-climbed a tree or rock face more than 10 meters vertically?
¨ Have you ever had a close relative who lived to over 90?
¨ Have you ever had a trainee who asked you a question you couldn’t answer?
¨ Have you ever cooked a meal by yourself for more than 10 people?
¨ Have you ever kept a parrot as a pet?
¨ Have you ever been parachuting or done a bungee jump?
¨ Can you click your fingers on your non-dominant hand?
¨ Have you ever seen a live polar bear?
¨ Have you ever attended a workshop in NCERD?

Evaluation Bus-stopping
¨ An A4 sheet of each activity that was done throughout the week is posted on the wall in front of the auditorium
¨ Each person has 4 different colours of sticky
o Colour 1 = Learnt the Most
o Colour 2 = Learnt the least
o Colour 3 = Liked the most
o Colour 4 = Disliked the most
¨ All stick their stickies on the sheets that apply to the categories above
¨ Facilitator comments on what has happened

Human Knot
In a circle, people put their arms in and hold someone else's hand, then try to unravel the knot without letting go of hands. Involves getting physically close to others, stretching, laughing and problem solving.