A participant in the JTA computer programme recieving a certificate frm Mrs. Beverly Minott, Principal Church Teachers' College more photos

Fifty three teachers from Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) South Central Region, comprising the parishes of Manchester, St. Elizabeth and Clarendon, recently completed twenty weeks of training in a special computer programme at Church Teachers' College in Manchester.

The programme is a joint project involving the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture through H.E.A.R.T. Trust/National Training Agency (NTA) and the Jamaica Teachers' Association which heavily subsidies the initiative and provides a loan scheme where participants can access loans up to $50,000.00 to purchase computers. The revolving loan fund now stands at $15 million.

Speaking at a ceremony on Saturday, October 6th, at the Church Teachers' College, where the participants were presented with their qualification certificates, Mr. Paul Adams, President of the JTA said that the Association must continue to make sure that teachers are "well placed." He noted that teachers must be well ahead in the technological age instead of playing "catch up" with students.

Guest Speaker, Mr. Robert Gregory, Executive Director of H.E.A.RT. Trust/NTA said that with the developments in technology, teachers must improve their methods of delivery to students, "chalk and talk have lost its excitement for these children, we need to incorporate the use of technology in the curriculum," he said.

Mr. Gregory said that students should be allowed to have more control over their own learning in order for them to think more analytically and critically and to work more collaboratively. "By integrating technology in the curriculum, you can provide a more diverse and challenging set of options based on student needs, interest and knowledge."

REPRINTED FROM THE MANDEVILLE WEEKLY, VOL 8# 41, Oct. 11, 2001