The training is part of an eight month programme of the Ministry of Education which seeks primarily to look into the licensing of educators and is being done through an $85K investment. Photo: Provided

Admitting that they have not gotten it all correct in their home country, Jamaica, Principal Director of the National College of Education Leadership (NCEL) of the Ministry of Education in Jamaica, Dr Maurice Smith has made a commitment to bring out the best in Virgin Islands' teachers. Photo: Provided

Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn during the opening ceremony alluded to the fact that the $85K investment is a steep one and as such it should not be business as usual when the training would have come to a close as his ministry will be looking forward to seeing changes for the better. Photo: Provided

While there will be much focus on other aspects of the programme to include instructional leadership, emphasis will be placed on how to better organize school boys, teaching them how to teach and learn from boys. Photo: Provided

“Jamaica hasn’t gotten it right, we are working with them as much as we are working with you. We are getting at the very heart of the issue. If we can improve our leaders, we can improve our schools, if we can improve our schools we can certainly improve our students and when we improve our students we will certainly improve our system and our country,” Dr Smith said.

The training commenced yesterday August 25, 2014 and it will last for two weeks.

Dr Smith is part of a team that is currently in the Virgin Islands conducting extensive training with teachers and principals as the Ministry of Education seeks to improve the quality of service delivered by teachers across the Territory.

The training is part of an eight month programme of the Ministry of Education which seeks primarily to look into the licensing of educators and is being done through an $85K investment.

While there will be much focus on other aspects of the programme to include instructional leadership, emphasis will be placed on how to better organize school boys, teaching them how to teach and learn from boys.

He also noted that they are cognizant of the fact that the Education Ministry of Jamaica is still working to master aspects of their own education system since they have not gotten everything right, the NCEL will not be taking lightly the VI government’s investment in the project.

“We are going to be working with you, we are going to crush you, we are going to step on you, we are going to stretch you and I am using those terms figuratively because certainly we want to bring out of you all the potential that’s in there,” said Dr Smith.

Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn during the opening ceremony alluded to the fact that the $85K investment is a steep one and as such it should not be business as usual when the training would have come to a close as his ministry will be looking forward to seeing changes for the better.

The training is regarded as the beginning of the Department of Education’s programme of compulsory licensing for all principals.

“We cannot afford to leave our development to chance because the growth of our economy and the security of the quality of life we have grown accustomed to are inextricably linked to the quality of education that we provide to the future leaders of our country,” said Hon Walwyn.