Students call for licensing of teachers

Barrington Flemming, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:The student leaders at Cornwall College and Mount Alvernia High School in Montego Bay are supportive of the proposal to license teachers as a step towards preserving the integrity of the educational system

Clavia Waite, head girl at Mount Alvernia High, and Cornwall College's head boy, Kevon McIntosh, supported the proposal while making their presentation during last week's panel discussion at the Latin American Conference on Advancing the Teaching Profession Achieving Education for All Goals, which was held at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa in Montego Bay.

Waite argued that the move to license teachers would serve to improve the standards of the teaching profession, which would redound to the benefit of both teachers and students.

"Legislation governing the teaching profession is of great importance in the education system … . The step to license educators must be seen as lifting the standards and quality in the teaching profession and not an attempt to lessen the self-esteem of an individual," said Waite.

She further explained that the teachers would be held to higher standards as only those qualified to teach a particular subject (secondary level) would be allowed to do so.

"This form of legislation will aid in the effectiveness of the teaching profession due to the fact that educators will have to be well trained and tested in order to obtain their licenses," said Waite.

"If there is no teaching certificate to show that the teacher can teach that particular subject, it does not matter how good that person is, they should not be allowed to teach that subject," added Waite.

FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY

For his part, McIntosh argued that in addition to preparing students to pass examinations, teaching is also about preparing young people to function effectively in the wider society after graduation.

"Education goes beyond passing exams," said McIntosh. "It is more than assisting students to get a straight-A profile … . Sometimes when the students leave the schools, that is all they have. They are not prepared to make the transition from school to the world of work or higher levels of academia."

The Cornwall College head boy went on to state that an effective teacher was one that helps to create an environment that allowed every student to be able to grasp the concepts being taught.

"An effective teacher seeks to provide a student friendly platform on which every class of students, whether they are scholarly or intellectually challenged, is able to grasp and apply the lesson being taught," said McIntosh.

"After all, they are being prepared to be future leaders and should be able to make positive contributions to the growth and development of the country."