Education

Visiting Professors Excited To Train Local Teachers

Professors from the Gordon Institute for Advanced Study Teachers College, Columbia University (TCCU) are excited about teaching two new programmes being conducted by Erdiston Teachers’ Training College (ETTC) and facilitated by the teaching staff of TCCU.

Speaking at the recent orientation ceremony for participants, Professor Christopher Emdin said it was “beautiful” to stand in front of them and see “these faces who will at some point reflect the next wave of innovation in teaching and leadership on the island”.

He explained why the partnership between ETTC and TCCU matters. “It is the final matching up of an entity outside of you to recognise the greatness of you that you already knew, and then saying together, we’re going to facilitate and speed up the vision of the greatness of Bajans that we always knew existed through the only thing we know that can shape the world, which is education,” he stated.

Professor Emdin pointed out that the partnership between the two campuses was not a ‘labour of love’ on their part.

“This is not serviced by Columbia. This is people matching intellectual wits to create a model that’s not yet been seen across the world, and as you see each other in this room, I don’t want you to think of this as a certification programme through Columbia or Gordon Institute or whatever else it is. See this as a history-making and defining moment to re-orchestrate what education, teaching and leadership can look like now.”

He continued: “People will write stories about this day. When we marked this moment, we selected this group, and we said, we are going to push you. We’ll push you. We’re going to challenge you. We’re going to make you feel uncomfortable. We’re at the same time going to celebrate your gifts. We’re going to recognise that as faculty, we don’t have all the answers, but we’ve got a whole lot of research; we have a whole lot of knowledge; we have a whole lot of experience, but we’re also going to value your research, your knowledge, your experience. We’re not looking at this as us and planting things into you. We’re looking at a partnership together.”

Professor Yolanda Sealy-Ruiz, who is of Barbadian descent, is one of Columbia’s programme facilitators. She told participants that it is an honour to be part of the partnership between the universities, adding that the teaching assignment is “probably the most important thing that I’ve done in my 30 years of teaching” and she hopes that it makes her Barbadian father proud.

“Nelson Mandela, who knows something about struggle, who knows something about fighting oppression, who knows something about freedom, dreaming, who knows something about making a difference, said that education is the way, not a way, the way to change the world,” Professor Sealy-Ruiz stated.

She encouraged the participants to know themselves, understand the power within them, and engage in self-knowledge, even if it is uncomfortable. She added that there is no mystery to teaching the nation’s children and advised the teachers to treat the children like human beings and love them deeply.

Professor Sealy-Ruiz also urged them to love the Barbadian culture, knowledge and ancestry and to use it as a way to resist the lies that they have been told about what system is best to teach our children.

“The beauty of our diversity is the beauty of our brilliance. And God made that so. So, if God made that so, it must be right, and in that sense, let us be teachers and let us be leaders who see the beauty of diversity and approach what we do with critical love, with critical humility, with critical reflection, with understanding of our history, being willing to do the self-work, what I call archaeology of self, and to interrupt those systems that say we are less than, and we don’t deserve more.”

Professor Edmund Adjapong, who is also from Columbia University, expressed his eagerness to teach. “I’m really excited to sit with you all, to learn with you all, to push you all, and I’ll share a little bit about my educational experience and why I’m here.

“What you’re getting here is, folks who, as you will notice and as you will learn throughout this process and this experience, are a family, and we are here to usher and welcome you all into our family and to support and train you all to be the best that we can be for our students,” he said.

Professor Adjapong shared, that upon reflection of his childhood experiences, he attributes poor educational experiences and opportunities as the catalyst which propelled him to become an educator.

“I had really poor teachers; they weren’t the best. They didn’t support me the way that I needed support as a young black male in New York City. So, my research focuses on youth culture. How do we leverage youth culture in the classroom to support and engage students? How do we love our students? How do we create opportunities in spaces of joy, and ultimately, how do we support our students and find the opportunity to liberate themselves within the structures that they find themselves within?”

He told participants that they were going to embark on this journey to support each other and “learn different strategies and teaching and approaches”.

“We’re going to embark on this journey to figure out how can we best connect and engage with our students. And we’re going to embark on this journey to support and liberate our students to support them into doing that within themselves,” he encouraged. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Visiting professor Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz of Columbia University speaking at the orientation ceremony on Monday. Looking on are (left to right) Chairperson of the Board of Management of the Erdiston Teachers’ Training College (ETTC), Dr. Sylvia Henry; Minister of Education, Kay McConney; Principal of ETTC, Dr. Colin Cumberbatch; and Professor Christopher Emdin of Columbia University.

Education

Concessionaires Vital To Health Of Nation’s Children

Canteen concessionaires are an integral part of the growth and development of this country’s children.

Chief Education Officer, Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw, expressed this view recently at a special ceremony held in honour of canteen concessionaires at the Savannah Hotel, Hastings, Christ Church.

Dr. Archer-Bradshaw said canteen concessionaires are necessary to the overall well-being of the nation’s children.

“By aligning your offerings with the guidelines of the policy, you help to create an environment where students can thrive, physically, mentally, and behaviourally. It means that what you do goes beyond making a dollar; you are making an impact, a positive impact, on our children’s lives.

“It is against this backdrop that I encourage you to continue innovating and exploring new ways to make healthy foods, not making them just accessible, but also making them enjoyable for our students. Remember, the choices that you make today will have a lasting impact on our children and ultimately our community, in line with our shared commitment to this cause,” she urged.

The Chief Education Officer acknowledged the role that canteen concessionaires play in supporting the Barbados School Nutrition Policy.

She stated that the commitment demonstrated in providing nutritious and balanced meals in schools to support the health and well-being of children has been nothing short of commendable.

“We all know that change is not easy. Nevertheless, you are willing to put your hands to the plough for the benefit of our children,” she told the concessionaires.

Dr. Archer-Bradshaw also commended the Ministry of Health and Wellness for being the driving force behind the implementation of the Barbados School Nutrition Policy.

“They were the ones who spearheaded the development of the Barbados School Nutrition Policy…. I know my colleague, CMO Kenneth George, played a role in that as well, and this policy focuses on creating a healthy food and physical activity environment for our students so that every single student can reach his or her full potential.”

She stated that the policy recognises that healthy nutrition is fundamental to academic success and overall physical health, but noted, however, that the effectiveness of the policy relies heavily on the collaboration and the support of all stakeholders and all canteen concessionaires, as the providers of meals and snacks in the schools across the island.

Addressing the concessionaires, she told them that they have the “unique opportunity to influence the dietary choices of our children”.

“Every day, some of our students look to you for lunches in the canteen and the options that you provide can either support their health or well-being or be detrimental to their health and well-being. By offering healthy, appealing, and diverse food choices, you can contribute significantly to fostering an environment where students develop good eating habits and where good nutrition is the norm and not the exception,” she stressed.

The Education Chief also said that they are teachers or educators in their own right and that they have the prime opportunity to introduce students to a variety of healthy foods, encourage them to make better food choices later on in life and instill habits that will carry them into adulthood.

“When students are provided with these nutritious meals, they’re more likely to be settled, they’re more likely to be focused and ready to engage with their schoolwork, and they will have the energy to participate in physical activities,” she told the concessionaires.

Dr. Archer-Bradshaw emphasised that the continued support of students as the Barbados School Nutrition Policy is implemented helps to combat depressing health issues that young people face, such as obesity and related illnesses.

The Education Chief also lauded the support of the Pan American Health Organization, which has offered a prestigious reward to the top three primary schools that can demonstrate their efforts in establishing a safe food and physical activity environment for their students by the end of this term.

These schools are required to submit a report detailing the initiatives that they have implemented to foster this healthy food and physical activity environment, while the Barbados School Nutrition Policy and Prevention Committee, will provide the specific criteria for evaluation to each primary school.

“I ask all of you here to make a commitment. Let us continue to make a positive difference in the lives of our students. As I always say in my borrowed quote, if we don’t take care of our children’s wellness, we are going to have to take care of their illness. Let us work together to take care of our children’s wellness,” Dr. Ramona Bradshaw urged. (PR/GIS)

Education

CELEBRATING SHIRLEY – 100 YEARS!

SHIRLEY CHISHOLM PROJECT an initiative launched by the Division of Culture in Primary Schools

The Division of Culture, Prime Minister’s Office has launched a series of educational initiatives for primary schools as part of the Shirley Chisholm Project, ‘Celebrating Shirley – 100 Years’, a Government-led programme to honour and celebrate the life and legacy of Shirley Chisholm.

During the official launch at the Shirley Chisholm Primary School in Vauxhall, Christ Church on Tuesday, Rodney Grant, Chairman of the Shirley Chisholm Project, explained that the activities include Primary Schools Heritage Tours and Visits and a National Library Service (NLS) Primary Schools Art Competition.

He said, “As we are all aware, Chisholm spent part of her early childhood here in Barbados and went on to make history as the first black woman to be elected to the United States Congress and to run for a Presidential nomination in that country.

“She was a true champion for civil rights, gender equality and social justice and through these activities we aim to educate young people about her story and her remarkable achievements but, more importantly, we want to inspire them to pursue greatness.”

Grant explained that the NLS Primary School Art Competition is open to students from all primary schools on the island with exciting prizes for the winners, their art teachers and schools.

The competition’s theme is ‘The Importance of Education to Character Development’ and students can submit their entries, of drawings or paintings depicting their interpretation of Chisholm’s primary school education in Barbados, via email to honourchisholm@nls.gov.bb no later than Independence Day, Saturday, November 30.

Giving details on the Heritage Tours and Visits organised by the Barbados National Register of Historic Places, Grant explained that students will participate in guided tours around Christ Church, highlighting locations of significance to Chisholm’s early life in Barbados.

“We will also visit various primary schools for interactive sessions and during both the tours and visits, students will receive information on Chisholm’s amazing career. Naturally we are starting with the students here at the Shirley Chisholm Primary and then we move onto the Christ Church Girls Primary, Grantley Prescod Memorial Primary and St. Silas Primary, among others,” he added.

Dr. Sheron Johnson, Senior Cultural Policy and Research Officer at the Division of Culture noted that the tours and visits aim to foster appreciation and understanding of Barbados’ rich cultural heritage.

She said, “By immersing young Barbadians in the historical significance of their surroundings, this initiative, which also supports the Ministry of Education’s Social Studies curriculum, also seeks to inspire a sense of pride and responsibility toward preserving Barbados’ history.”

Principal of the Shirley Chisholm Primary School, Donna Franklin, praised the initiative, stating, “Our students have been exposed to the life and legacy of Shirley Chisholm through storytelling, the sharing of materials and their Social Studies lessons. We welcome the tour because we believe it will enhance those learning experiences.

“As a school, we teach our students that, just like Shirley Chisholm, they too can be catalysts for change and we embrace opportunities to teach them that they can become anything that they want to be. They can dream big, they can think big and they can achieve anything. Not just here, but globally as well.”

Barbados’ Independence Day, November 30, 2024 marks the centenary anniversary of Chisholm’s birth. (PR)

Education

SJPI Students Receive Ministry Scholarships

Three students from the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology (SJPI) have been awarded the National Ozone Depleting Substances Phase-Out Support Scholarship for the 2024-2025 academic year.

The winners – Raquan Bourne, Liam Griffith, and Nathaniel Waithe – each received scholarships worth BDS $1,100, from the Ministry of Environment and National Beautification, Green and Blue Economy, during a recent presentation ceremony, at the SJPI.

Scholarship winner, Nathaniel Waithe expressed his exuberance at being in the winners’ row, saying: “I am honoured to receive the generous support of the National Ozone-Depleting Substances Phase-Out Support Scholarship.”

He emphasised that: “This scholarship not only eases my financial burden but also fuels my ambition to excel in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. With help from the Ministry of Environment and National Beautification, Green and Blue Economy, I am inspired to make a meaningful impact on our environment.”

The National Ozone Depleting Substances Phase-Out Support Scholarship is intended to complement actions directed at achieving the Hydro-chlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) phase-out targets, as defined in the National HCFC Phase-Out Management Plan.

Since its inception in 2014, the Scholarship has provided essential funding for students pursuing careers in refrigeration engineering. The initiative includes tuition payment and a BDS $700 grant for tool purchases, in support of students and their educational pursuits. So far, over 30 students have benefitted from the Scholarship.

The partnership, between the Ministry and SJPI, aims to enhance the quality of education in the RAC programme, providing the necessary equipment and resources, to prepare students for future challenges that may be encountered in the field.

The scholarships, which are for second year students pursuing the Diploma in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology, are funded annually by the Ministry of Environment and National Beautification, Green and Blue Economy. (PR/GIS)

Caption: From left to right – SJPI Principal, Ian Drakes; scholarship recipient Nathaniel Waithe; Deputy Principal, Brenda Osbourne; Acting Minister of the Environment and National Beautification, Corey Lane; SJPI Chairman, Coreen Kennedy-Taitt-GTE; and scholarship recipients, Raquan Bourne and Liam Griffith, at the recent presentation ceremony, at the SJPI