THE reputation of teacher training at the University of Sunderland has reached exotic shores resulting in an education collaboration.

In a bid to increase the pool of home-grown teachers in the Cayman Islands, the Ministry of Education has joined forces with the University to offer a local postgraduate teaching course.

Thirteen would-be teachers have now begun the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) one-year course, including 10 Caymanians.

All of the graduates are professionals, recently working in other fields who have opted to make a career changing decision to teach.

Sue Cooke, Head of the Department of Education at the University of Sunderland, says that this is an exciting new development for the University’s established PGCE by Independent Distance Learning which has operated overseas for more than a decade and has around 250 students every year, predominantly based in International Schools worldwide.

“I welcomed the opportunity to meet with the students and their mentors in Grand Cayman in September to provide mentor training and an induction to the programme for students, mentors and the Ministry,” she said. “Everyone is very keen and enthusiastic about the opportunities working with the University offers to the Cayman Islands. I wish the students every success on this very challenging and time consuming programme which sees them placed in local schools and supported by mentors who teach in those schools.”

Manager for the programme Cetonya Cacho, the former Principal of Bodden Town Primary School, explained that the course is a blend of online and practical study. Theoretical course information, readings and assignments will be provided through online distance learning from the University of Sunderland and this will then be directly linked to school experience in classrooms in the Cayman Islands.

“During the school experience, PGCE students will have the opportunity to put theory into practice with the support of a mentor teacher,” she explained. “The mentors are experienced teachers from the Government’s Education System who have volunteered to provide this service.”

Ceytona said an additional local component of the course includes weekly workshops on national strategies and school initiatives, such as the Cayman Islands National Professional Standards for Teachers.

Mary Rodrigues, chief officer in the Ministry, congratulated the candidates on passing the rigorous selection process, administrated by the University and the Ministry. She added:  “Teaching is a wonderful profession that too many people overlook as a career path. Work hard and focus on the difference you can make in a child’s life.”

The PGCE is to provide anyone aspiring to a career in teaching with the professional training and experience necessary to develop as teachers.

For more on this story go to:

http://www.sunderland.ac.uk/newsevents/news/news/index.php?nid=1844

Also see iNews Cayman story “Graduates Choose Teaching as a Career” on Sept 26 at: http://www.ieyenews.com/2012/09/graduates-choose-teaching-as-a-career/