By KIMBERLEY HIBBERT

EDUCATION minister Ronald Thwaites has called for teachers’ colleges to change their focus and become multidisciplinary institutions.

Thwaites said he’s been expecting responses from the colleges from late last year, but though it is difficult for people to reinvent themselves, the ministry will work alongside the colleges to enact change.

“We must see a new face to many of the teachers’ colleges by September this year. It’s doing better and adding value to what we have… adding value to student achievement is the philosophy and mantra of the Ministry of Education, and it must apply to everyone.”

The minister explained that the colleges are being asked to review their entire offerings in order to utilise the spaces they have in more productive ways.

“Offer more courses like what community colleges do — short courses and skills oriented courses need to be included in the offerings, so that more students can attend these schools,” he said. He added that the focus is to prepare a new set of teachers with new skills and competencies so they are qualified to hold down other professions other than teaching.

Thwaites mentioned that with the Jamaica Teaching Council set to come on stream later this year, a new standard for teachers is in place.

“It will standardise teaching, register teachers, and give them professional status. It will also determine what you have to do to qualify as a teacher,” Thwaites said.

“Eleven thousand teachers hold diplomas, whereas the new standard is a bachelor’s degree which is coming with the Jamaica Teaching Council. These have to be upgraded, and teachers’ colleges can find useful employ in their personnel by doing that.”

Moreover, the minister said he understands that change is abrasive, but the world is not waiting on Jamaica to change, therefore the change has to be made now.

“Look at it with transformative eyes; see what it is we need to achieve. The approach of fitting people into the system no longer works. Look at the marketplace, see what are the skills and competencies the marketplace needs, and train for those skills,” Thwaites said.