CTF/CUT John Thompson Young Leaders Workshop- Antigua

OAS General Secretary Urges Greater Effort

In his address to the opening ceremony of the 7th Inter-American Meeting of the OAS, General Secretary,  congratulated the region on the remarkable achievements in the area of education. He lauded the regions effort to make education more accessible to all despite their socio economic background, and most importantly despite their gender. He noted that the region can boast of an average 75% access to education for learners of all social strata and gender; with increasing access to technological developments.

Notwithstanding the developments that have been made, Mr. Insulza pointed to the fact that while we can boast of relatively high access to education, research shows that at least 35% of third grade students are unable to negotiate basic addition, subtraction and multiplication problems, and at least 40% of 15 year old learners are currently reading below the expected level. He concluded that there are multiple factors which contribute to the current morass. However, the General Secretary emphasized that greater attention must be paid to the training of teachers, as well as the training of those who are tasked with the training of teachers. Additionally, he suggested that greater attention must be paid to the quality of persons who are recruited to the teaching profession; ensuring that they are attuned to the needs of the learners and grounded in society and its established value system.

On the issue of access to technology, Mr. Insulza noted that there has been an inexorable penetration throughout the region. He highlighted that while many schools have access to information technology, critical consideration must be given to the extent to which the technology is used to engage students and improve the teaching-learning process. He cautioned that unless significant efforts are made by all stakeholders and particularly the policy makers, our education systems will continue to struggle.

Last Updated on Thursday, 01 March 2012 15:06

2012 Walden- C.U.T Scholarship Announced

Walden University has partnered with the Caribbean Union of Teachers(CUT) to offer its members a 20%  tuition reduction for the life of their degree program when they enroll at Walden.  Many of our caribbean colleagues have taken advantage of this great member benefit to fulfill their professional development goals.

Several fellow members who won the 2011 Walden-CUT Scholarship for US$5,000 towards their studies are currently enrolled and enjoying their courses at Walden. In celebration of this partnership, we are pleased to announce the 2012 CUT Scholarships.

This year, Walden is offering THREE (3) $5,000 Scholarships towards Walden’s MSEd Programs AND TWO (2) $1,500 Walden Social Change Agent Grants.   Both the scholarship and the grant recognize exceptional teachers who are seeking to make a difference in their schools and communities.   The scholarship allows for CUT members to enroll in Walden’s highly ranked  Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership. The grant support the direct cost of the advancement of work being done in the community by the recipient, or the recipient’s class or school, which speaks to Walden’s mission of social change.

The deadline to apply for each is May 25 2012, so we look forward to spreading the word out immediately to all your members!

As a reminder, in addition to the scholarship and grant, through this partnership, all CUT members are eligible for a 20% tuition savings* on any Walden program that will help meet educational and professional development needs.

To learn more about the opportunities at Walden University, the CUT scholarship, as well as the 20% tuition savings*, please review the scholarship overview and nomination forms attached, and  visit http://global.waldenu.edu to speak with an enrollment advisor today.

click here for scholarship overview and nomination form

click here for grant overview and nomination form

Please note that the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers does not have control over the final selection.

Last Updated on Thursday, 08 March 2012 02:44

General Secretary to Attend 7th Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Education

General Secretary of the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers, Ashworth Azille will form part of the Antigua and Barbuda delegation attending the 7th Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Education will take place from March 1 to 2, 2012 in Paramaribo, Suriname.The meeting is being observed under the theme: Transforming the role of the teacher to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Participants are expected to reflect on, and engage in dialogue on the kind of teacher that is needed by the student today. Key consideration will also be given to issue of educational institutions as learning communities, as well as the responsibility of the State in safeguarding a quality education for all. The meeting recognizes that teachers must play a critical role in shaping education reform, and administrators must share responsibility for student's performance. Minister of Education and Community development in Suriname, Mr. R. Sapoen is quotes as saying "often, critics complain that teachers unions stand in th of education reform. Yet improving teaching and learning must involve all stakeholders, and Suriname strongly believes in the role that teachers unions must play in education reform." It was based on this belief that Minister Sapoen requested that Ministers of Education include a representative of their local teachers' union.  Ministers will be expected to consider and adopt the Declaration of Paramaribo: “Transforming the role of the teacher to meet the challenges of the 21st century”.

Last Updated on Thursday, 01 March 2012 13:46

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