Educators encouraged to play active role in the Bahamas
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| Published on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 |
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Director of Higher Education and Lifelong Learning, Dr Leon Higgs, addressing
educators at the sixth annual Educators Industry Internship Program.
(BIS Photo/Derek Smith)
by Betty Vedrine
NASSAU, Bahamas (BIS) -- Stakeholders in education have been encouraged to play an active role in moving The Bahamas forward.
"They were being addressed by Director of Higher Education and Lifelong Learning, Dr Leon Higgs, at the sixth annual Educators Industry Internship Programme held at the College of the Bahamas' Culinary Hospitality Management Institute on June 22.
“We are building a country that is forward moving, and forward thinking, thus giving it the ability to sustain itself during difficult economic times such as now,” said Dr Higgs.
“However, in order for us to accomplish our goals, we must collaborate with and involve all stakeholders in the education process. After all, nation building is the responsibility of all of us Bahamians.
”Already stakeholders have taken an active role such as forming the National Tourism Task Force on Education, he noted. This workshop is another of these initiatives.
“Through activities such as training sessions for industry and educators, internships in industry, and constant evaluation of the programme, the knowledge that is offered to educators is relevant," he said.
With the advent of the Internet, the onset of globalization, and the signing of trade agreements between nations, students can now compete for almost any job for which they qualify in any region in the world, he noted.
“In some instances, (students) may not have to leave their homes to find employment in the future,” said Higgs. “Therefore, our students must be educated to compete at all levels.They must be trained to deliver service with excellence.
”Educators would have to continue to focus on their own professional training and development in order for this to happen, he said.
So far, this initiative has benefitted more than five hundred educators. One hundred are expected to participate this year.
The workshop is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, and the College of the Bahamas' Culinary Hospitality Management Institute. It is being held through June 26 at the Institute's campus. | | | | Reads : 1198 | | | |
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