| Volunteer teachers have over the years been filling a crucial gap in the education sector. They are open to render their services wherever it is needed, even if in the far-flung Regions of the country.And although funding for the Youth Challenge Guyana (YCG)-driven Volunteer Teachers Programme will come to an end next year fervent efforts have already been engaged to ensure that the programme does not flop, given its importance.The Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), until next March,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, will continue to receive funding from CUSO International,Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys, a non-profit development organisation based in Canada.YCG’s Dmitri Nicholson (left) and Jermaine Watson.And in order to ensure sustainability of the volunteer teachers’ programme,NFL Jerseys 2018, YCG’s Executive Director, Dmitri Nicholson,cheap nfl jerseys china, disclosed that “we are looking for ways that we can continue to support these volunteers.”He revealed that although a number of trained teachers graduate from the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) on an annual basis, volunteer teachers are still playing a very active role in supporting the education system. These volunteer teachers, he said, are dispatched to Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine and some are even sent to Regions Two, Three and Four as well.However, the majority of the volunteer teachers are sent to the outlined Regions, which often has a more dire need for teachers. In fact, at the beginning of the new school year,Nike Air Max Sale Australia, a few weeks ago, a total of 58 teachers were dispatched with the majority being sent to interior locations. In fact, most of the volunteers were drawn from the outlined Regions.“Although CPCE keeps graduating,Andrew Benintendi Jersey, there is still a need for more teachers…many teachers are coming out of the college and they all are not opting for places in the interior but the volunteers more or less appreciate that opportunity to serve wherever the need is necessary…I think they have an innate desire; the drive to do good that is what comes out when we talk with them,” explained Nicholson.Nicholson further dispelled claims that have been made by some individuals that volunteer teachers are not qualified to teach even as he speculated that some may even opt to volunteer because of the unavailability of jobs.Teacher volunteers are accepted on the basis of their qualifications, which can be no less than the attainment of five Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) subjects. They are required to undergo a rigorous interview process which takes into consideration their personality and general fitness for the teaching task for which they applied.He disclosed that some volunteer teachers are in fact persons who would have retired from the teaching profession and that there are yet others who are passionate about education and opt to offer their service to the field as well.All persons accepted for volunteerism are however required to undergo a month-long basic training programme in preparation for their anticipated teaching spells. During this training, which is facilitated by YCG, CUSO International and the Ministry of Education through the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD), the accepted volunteers are also exposed to life skills development sessions.YCG has been working in close partnership with the Ministry of Education for several years in this regard. “It is a very collaborative relationship,” said YCG’s Programme Manager, Jermaine Watson, who is hopeful that when the CUSO International funding comes to an end, the Education Ministry will take up the financial slack.“Right now the Ministry supports two-thirds of the cost for the volunteers when they go into the field and we are primarily in charge of training the volunteers and supporting their well-being while they are in the Region,Cheap Jerseys From China,” explained Watson.Each volunteer is paid a monthly stipend of $35,000 and an additional $5,000 as a remote area allowance. According to Watson it is such support that motivates persons to keep on volunteering. |
