Adapting to the new era of learning, 13 teachers across the Virgin Islands school system have received training to deliver distance education and use information and communications technology (ICT) in education during and beyond the COVID-19 crisis.
The programme was made possible by the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) Distance Learning and Teacher Training programme.
In an official comment via the Government Information Services Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr. the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley said, “The knowledge provided in this programme will aid educators in executing effective and meaningful lessons online with their students. I am pleased that educators are advancing their skillsets and congratulate all 13 educators who received a certificate of completion in the programme.”
Also commenting on the successful completion of the programme, Secretary General for the BVI National Commission for UNESCO, Dr. Allison Flax-Archer said the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic forced school closures and while the Virgin Islands bounced back quicker than its Caribbean counterparts, it was still with some difficulty as teachers needed to move quite quickly from a traditional classroom to an online learning environment.
Dr. Flax-Archer added, “The UNESCO distance learning training has provided teachers with tools and resources to equip them as they continue to navigate their way through the online learning platform. We should always be ready to shift should the need arise. Congratulations to our teachers.”
The entire programme cohort was made up of 52 master trainers and 440 teachers from across the region.
Speaking on the Lent Term for the 2021-2022 school year, which began on January 6, through online learning.
Chief Education Officer, Dr. Connie George said she was pleased to see that teachers took advantage of the course that was offered and completed it successfully.
George said, “This shows me that our educators are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to ensure that they have the necessary resources and skills to be effective in the classroom and be prepared for the current demands of the teaching and learning process.”
The Chief Education Officer added, “Since the start of COVID-19 and education had to move to online, many of the regional and international organizations have offered many free courses for educators. We have been informing all educators through our Virgin Islands. schools blast email method of the courses.”