Calls for more training, better support for teachers

A call is being made for greater investment in teacher training institutions, with Dr Ashburn Pinnock, president of The Mico University College, arguing that while teacher preparation is evolving, it is not always keeping pace with the complexities of the modern classroom.

“In fact, over the last 30 years, our investment in teacher education has not been on par with the demand and the development. And that’s where some of the gaps you will find, where some programmes still emphasise theory over adaptive practice, leaving new teachers underprepared for behavioural, cultural, and resourceful constraints,” he said.

Adamant that this needs to be addressed, Pinnock also noted that mentorship and induction support for new teachers are often inconsistent, especially in under-resourced schools.