Jamaican educators join peers in Suriname and Guyana for regional training course

Thirty-three educators from Jamaican primary schools, along with five from the country’s teacher-training institutions, are set to partake in an innovative regional course.

Notably, Jamaican educators will be trained in tandem with their peers from Suriname and Guyana.

This training aims to arm them with pivotal digital pedagogy skills, positioning them at the forefront of 21st-century teaching techniques.

An international collaboration: HAMK, IDB, and Jamaica's Education Ministry

This unique educational endeavor will be delivered by Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) located in Finland. They are partnering with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Jamaica’s Ministry of Education and Youth.

Empowering teachers for 21st-Century challenges

During the virtual course unveiling, Portfolio Minister, Fayval Williams, highlighted the transformative potential of this initiative.

She emphasized, “This initiative will boost our efforts at addressing the evolving needs of the educational sphere and ensure that our teachers are well positioned well prepared to harness the power of technology in their classrooms.”

She added that the partnership is vital in the mission towards boosting academic achievement and learning outcomes across the region.

Education Minister Fayval Williams. (Photo: Yhomo Hutchinson/ JIS)

Course highlights: Immersive and interactive learning

Comprising 15 intensive thematic modules, the course centers on fostering a student-centric approach and the incorporation of digital and online learning enhancements.

Not only will participants gain insights into pioneering educational models and practices, but they will also experience these lessons firsthand as learners themselves.

“They will listen, study, and internalize the lessons with their colleagues, and I encourage them to treat it just as seriously as they would want their lessons to be accepted,” the minister said.

Mentoring and community building: A sustainable approach

Beyond mere lessons, the course offers an enriching layer of peer mentoring sessions.

These are tailored for teachers and teacher educators, with an emphasis on constructing enduring educational communities and ingraining learned knowledge into practical applications.

HAMK’s global recognition and its value to Jamaica

Minister Williams pointed out HAMK’s reputation in the global teaching community, particularly lauding the expertise of their School of Professional Teacher Education.

She expressed confidence that, through collaboration with such a distinguished institution, Jamaican educators would benefit from top-tier education, paving the way for transformative teaching practices.

Williams further conveyed the Ministry’s anticipation regarding the substantial positive transformations this partnership promises for Jamaican classrooms and the resultant enhancements in student outcomes.