WHY MINISTRY OF EDUCATION?

Sir,
 
When Ngwane Park Teachers College started the Early Childhood Education (ECE) programme, I was a bit sceptical but having come across some of their products after graduating with diplomas, I salute the principal of that college for work well done.

The products from the ECE programme have been well prepared for the job. From my experience these teachers can handle all the lower grades in primary schools. They are better equipped because before you are admitted for the programme an applicant needs three credits plus three passes before admission. Their training is very consistent; throughout the holidays they are accommodated at the college and attend lectures religiously. When schools are in session they go on weekends. They are also taught by qualified teachers who are already teaching in the mainstream. 

It, therefore, beats my imagination why some of these ECE teachers are still not employed by the Ministry of Education, yet some of the teachers from CIT, Amadi and Workers College have found their way into government schools. I do not undermine these schools but my only beef with them is that they do not screen applicants well. Most of them do not have the three credits and the three passes as required for the ECE programme at Ngwane Teachers College.

My question therefore is: How do these people find their way into government schools when the diploma holders for the ECE are still languishing at home? Under the above circumstances, which of these two groups need to be employed first by the ministry if they are there to see the uplifting of the standard of education in the country?

I remember when the ministry started employing some of these Amadi products but later on found that they were not as capable as they thought and stopped engaging them, but what has changed now? The effect of this kind of move will not be felt immediately but after a period of five years. After sometime we will be feeling the disaster that has been caused by the ministry by employing ill-prepared teachers to teach our children.

Come on ministry, employ the graduates prepared for the ECE programme first before considering those from other so called training institutions, please.

Concerned Educationist

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: