Prime Minister- Dr. Ralph Gonslves has made an urgent call for a complete overhaul of the education system within the region,beginning with the “re-tooling and re-training” of some teachers.
Dr. Ralph Gonsalves made the call as he delivered the 12th Annual Dr. Alister Francis Memorial Lecture in Antigua on Monday night.
He said the education system, particularly at the primary level needs to be revamped with more emphasis placed on quality teaching and quality leadership in the schools.
The Prime Minister said a conversation has to start, as a matter of urgency, with all the stakeholders, to see those teachers who are assessed (as not being) quality teachers, on how they can be retooled.
He said if they are not interested in retooling … arrangements should be made to have them exit the teaching profession and do other things.
He stated about 18 to 20 percent of recurrent expenditure in the region is spent on education and there is a serious problem with the outcome.
