Funds Secured to Boost Teacher Development

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The Ministry of Education and the Organisation of American States signed a contract on Friday that will provide financing for the further development of teachers in Antigua and Barbuda.
The agreement will allow the ministry to draw down on U.S. $83,000 through the OAS Development Corporation Fund.
Minister of Education Michael Browne, during the signing ceremony in his office, said that the agreement was reached after education ministers throughout the OAS challenged the international body to “up the ante in overall contributions towards the development of teacher education and pedagogy.
“One of the challenges we found was that there is an inconsistency in the way teachers are trained and how professional development is done in Latin America, South America and across the Caribbean,” Minister Browne stated.
According to him, the education ministers identified the disparity then formed working groups to arrive at solutions that will remedy the situation. Funding was secured in Washington last year for the region.
The ministers agreed that focus will be placed on continuous training for teachers through professional development, strengthening teacher education and the provision of basic training for pedagogs.
“There has been the assumption that the OAS and its relevance to the region may be in question. I am happy that our signing today galvanises the extent, to which the OAS is not  only making a comeback in terms of establishing its relevance in the region, but the Ministers of Education, through the International Education Department, made it plain that money is going to be put where decisions have been made,” the minister added.
Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Education, Rosa Greenaway and Stacey Payne-Mascall, coordinator for the initiative, signed on behalf of the Ministry, while National Liaison Officer, Almira Henry signed on behalf of the OAS.

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