Stakeholder consultation continues to be a top priority for the Ministry of Education in order to provide an opportunity for dialogue and feedback. These meetings involve members of the MOE Senior Executive team, where they engage in discussions on matters relating to education.
The latest group to engage the Ministry’s Senior Executive team was the Association of Principals of Public Secondary Schools, led by its President Donna-Marie Bertrand and seven of its Senior Executives on Tuesday 9th July, 2019. They discussed matters such as funding for secondary schools, training for teachers and principals, effective school management and attendance at the Caribbean Association of Principals’ Conference 2019 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Honourable Anthony Garcia, Minister of Education, in his address to the group stressed the importance for collaboration. “We cannot do it alone we need the active support of our stakeholders to hold hands and to help build the Education System. The Ministry of Education is always willing to work with you and to exchange ideas and consider your recommendations to provide our students with greater access to educational opportunities.”
Topping the agenda at Tuesday’s meeting was a request for APPSS to have the blessings of the MOE to host the Caribbean Association of Principal Conference in 2021. This event will be done in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. The MOE team, which also included its Permanent Secretary, Lenor Baptiste – Simmons, requested from the APPSS a comprehensive plan and a budget for this event.
Meanwhile, President of the Association of Principals of Public Secondary Schools, Donna-Marie Bertrand thanked the MOE’s team for its continuous engagement, especially for considering a request to put systems in place to make it easier for its Principals to conduct official business at the Education Towers on St. Vincent Street, Port of Spain.