Vince Henderson Minister for Education, Youth Affairs,Sports and Human Resource Development

Quality education and the key role of teachers

Having understood the importance of an educated workforce, Government has spent the past five (5) years pursuing a policy of Universal Secondary Education as a means to ensuring that all young people have access to a secondary education. We have had tremendous success in pursuit of this policy. By September 2004, 90% of primary school students eligible for secondary education will be enrolled in school. The Government is committed to ensuring that the remaining 10% will be enrolled over the next two (2) years. While attaining this has been a tremendous challenge, the task of improving the quality of education for these students and meeting stated outcomes in quality learning appears to be an even greater challenge. The high cost of doing so, the need to change the culture of the classroom and prevailing philosophies on education and role teachers play in the process are some of the challenges.

We understand the key role that teachers play in attaining and maintaining quality education and the importance of quality in ensuring that each child achieves first and foremost. The quality focus for schools has been on improving literacy and numeracy. We also understand that to achieve quality in education it is important to improve the working conditions of teachers, establish a career path for them and improve their competency in curriculum delivery. This should be supplemented by increased focus in supervision and monitory of the delivery of the curriculum and the use of the results to provide feedback and support for teacher. The continuous development of teachers remains essential to the delivery of quality education. Dominica has received support in its drive to improve quality and recognises the effort its regional and international partners - OERU, CIDA, DFID, OAS, and UNESCO in assisting in the attainment of these noble objectives.

The role of teachers in facilitating learning is critical and our continued support for their work and commitment to improving their lot can only bolster there performance and contribution. Much hinges on what happens in the classroom in terms of quality, quality teachers can only deliver quality education which results in quality outcomes.