Last Updated on October 24, 2024, 3:14 PM AST by Anthony Morris
St Kitts: The Government of St Kitts and Nevis through the Ministry of Education has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Open University of Tanzania (O.U.T) to enhance the professional qualifications of teachers of the Federation.
This significant agreement was signed by the Minister of Education, Dr Geoffrey Hanley and the Vice Chancellor of the Open University of Tanzania, Professor Elifas Tozo Bisanda, during a virtual ceremony.
The virtual signing was witnessed by the Lisa Pistana, Education Ministry Permanent Secretary accompanied by Dorothy Warner, Secretary General St Kitts and Nevis National Commission for UNESCO and David Doyle, the Ambassador of the Federation to UNESCO.
During the signing remarks were delivered by the Project Focal Point, Dr Kertney Thompson, Chief Executive Officer, TVET, and the OUT Representative, Dr Janeth Kigobe, Coordinator UNESCO Chair on Teacher Education and Curriculum and Coordinator Master Education in Curriculum Design and Development.
The Education Minister Geoffrey Hanley noted this memorandum as a game changer as it will help opening of new paths of opportunities for teachers in St Kitts and Nevis through scholarships for both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
The primary objective laid by the Education Ministry behind this agreement is to facilitate the access of remote-based degrees for the teachers of the island country.
Reportedly, the Ministry of Education is planning to register 20 teachers as the first group in the OUT Bachelors of Education in Curriculum Design and Development Degree programmes which aims to enhance their skills in designing and developing effective curriculum.
In total, there are about 80 primary and secondary school teachers in St. Kitts and Nevis, most of them holding associate degrees from the University of West Indies, who could potentially be included in the OUT Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in the coming years.
Notably, Minister Hanley emphasised on the successful completion of the OUT courses by a growing proportion of the educators that would constitute a significant and timely scaling-up of the academic qualifications needed in St. Kitts and Nevis, as the country is transformed into a sustainable island state.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
