A job well done

ST JOSEPH’S Teachers’ College celebrates its 120th anniversary during a time of considerable change due to the emergence of new technologies, the movement of people, and increased competition to attract students between institutions and across borders. As a result, the theme for the celebrations, ‘SJTC: Committed to Service; Dedicated to Quality’, gives us an insight into St Joseph’s plans for the future of teacher education in Jamaica. I believe that graduates of the Teachers’ Colleges of Jamaica (TCJ) are unique in that they study in institutions like St

Joseph’s Teachers’ College, where excellence in scholarship, research, creativity, and innovation come together to produce the next generation of thought leaders in academia. It was John Dewy who said, “Teaching is one profession that creates all other professions.”

TCJ is designed to enable the delivery of programmes by the eight participating teachers’ colleges within an established quality-assurance framework, approved by the University of the West Indies, to enhance the quality of teacher education in Jamaica. TCJ stands as an example of an initiative to unite the teacher-training colleges and promote collaboration and partnerships in the education system.

The TCJ Strategic Plan guides all the institutions along a trajectory of continued improvement that leads to higher sought-after tertiary education and continues to promulgate the importance of sound teacher training in Jamaica. It is envisaged that the TCJ’s 2016-2021 Strategic Plan will provide the overall framework that will propel it forward in support of Vision 2030’s National Goal #2, which is to ensure that Jamaicans are empowered to achieve their fullest potential.

As the global higher education arena becomes more and more underpinned by technology and the issues of teacher quality and accountability remain topical in the public media, we have to be mindful of taking the challenge to the competition. Our response must be to ensure that the quality of our programmes does not diminish, that we continue to develop and include courses and programmes that are relevant to national and regional development, and that our pedagogical methods are aligned to students’ changing modes of learning, as well as employers’ expectations of a knowledgeable and skilled workforce.

CONGRATS TO TEAM

It is, therefore, a pleasure for me to participate in the chorus of congratulations for St Joseph’s Teachers’ College as you celebrate your 120th anniversary. Teachers’ Colleges of Jamaica wishes to extend congratulations to the board of management; principal, Sis Dr Gwen Melhado; vice-principals, and the entire staff for your contribution to decades of superb public service as you help to promote better education, the indispensable ingredient of a successful society.

Not only has this been a job well done, but you have done it against the odds that face any such undertaking while never compromising on the vision you have set for the institution. You never lost sight of your original tenet of providing Christian education.

May God continue to grant you wisdom and grace as you serve beyond your already successful 120 years. YVONNE E. CLARKE Dean of Teachers’ Colleges of Jamaica