Petrina Francis, Education Reporter
LASCO, IN collaboration with the Ministry of Education Youth and Culture, has redesigned and introduced the Teacher of The Year Award programme.
According to the Ministry of Education, the teacher of the year should be able to motivate students to learn; be actively involved in community work; demonstrate excellent teaching skills and possess excellent planning and organisational skills.
The programme will also recognise a mentor of the year and a beginner's teacher of the year.
Beverley Thompson-Brown, assistant chief education officer for the professional development unit in the Education Ministry, said the idea behind the programme is to motivate teachers as much as possible.
Noting that the society tends to blame teachers for the ills that occur in the education system, Mrs. Thompson-Brown said the teacher award programme is designed to provide an incentive for teachers to excel and also to recognise those who have performed outstandingly.
The education officer explained that an instrument has been designed to measure the teachers to make the process as objective as possible. Teachers will be evaluated by their students, principals, education officers and colleagues.
The first Teacher of the Year will be named by the end of September. The prize for the top teacher will be an all-expense-paid trip to an international professional conference.
Neville Ledgister, general manager for the consumer division at Lasco Distributors told The Gleaner on Wednesday that Lasco decided to sponsor the programme because it is a part of the company's commitment to nation building. He noted that honouring teachers serves as a motivation for members of the profession.
