The Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) has received a record 1,500 applications for the new academic year starting September and it unveiled a number of measures being put into place to attract more male teachers to the education system.
Minister of Education Shaik Baksh said some 300 of the applicants did not satisfy all the entry requirements and will be enlisted to undergo remediation programmes in English or Mathematics or in both subjects. According to a press release from the ministry Baksh told a group of 40 volunteers at the College, that only about 500 of the applicants met all the entry requirements. The volunteers recently completed a three-week orientation programme designed to prepare them to serve in hinterland regions. It offered them an opportunity to upgrade themselves in order to qualify for entry into the CPCE’s 2011 programme.
According to data from the college, 190 of the applicants for the coming academic year are men but only 72 are qualified. Baksh also said about 300 applicants have applied for the pre-service mode and 50% of them are men. The remaining applicants are interested in pursuing in-service programme. CPCE usually receives an average of 900 applications per year. The average annual intake at the college, including its 14 satellite centres is about 600 students.
The minister urged applicants who were not accepted into the programme to exercise patience as they will be among the first considered next year once they have upgraded their qualifications. Baksh said his ministry is looking to establish regional centres to upgrade applicants who have a vested interest in educating the nation’s children. The ministry is also pursuing male teachers in keeping with its national campaign to ensure a gender balance in the profession. It is also putting measures into place to give them an opportunity to fulfil the vision of the National Teachers’ Volunteer programme and to prepare them for a career of lifelong learning. The volunteer programme is part of a wider programme on teacher education and training reform geared to produce more quality teachers in the school system and to enhance teacher’s performance.
From September the college will be introducing an Associate’s Degree in Education (ADE) replacing the Trained Teachers’ Certificate Programme. The ADE significantly reduces the study duration for a teacher to obtain a Trained Teachers’ Certificate and a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. On completion of the ADE teachers can pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Education in the span of two years at the University of Guyana.
