Devon Evans, Gleaner Writer
OCHO RIOS, St Ann:
RUEL REID, president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA), has called for a constant upgrading of teacher skills to allow them to manage schools properly.
He said yesterday that Jamaica's education system is at a crossroads and that any meaningful and long-term transformation must include improving teacher skills.
Mr. Reid was speaking Sunday during the opening session of the JTA's conference on classroom behaviour and management at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort in Ocho Rios, St. Ann.
BEHAVIOURAL CHALLENGES
He said the JTA has highlighted the need for the adoption of new strategies to manage behavioural challenges in schools. He also stressed that it was full time that the matter be dealt with.
Mr. Reid recommended that all educators be trained in counselling to help address the academic, social and personal objectives of students at all levels.
He also reiterated that the JTA wanted to see the number of professional counsellors in schools increase to a ratio of 1-300.
"These small but important changes would of course have to be complemented by other improvements in how we manage the business of education," Mr. Reid said.
The JTA president also lobbied for the development of an effective re-mediation programme for specially challenged students.
The five-day conference is being held under the theme 'Managing Classroom Behaviour, 21st Century Challenge, Approaches and Solutions'. Initiated by the JTA in the midst of a surge in violence in schools islandwide, the conference ends tomorrow.
