Teachers head back to the classrooms today

The summer vacation for the nation’s teachers has ended as approximately thirteen
hundred teachers in the public education system head back to school this week.
Director of Education, Clare Browne said a packed agenda awaits the teachers
returning to the classrooms after the summer break. “The teachers are expected to
attend staff meetings with their principals on Monday. However, on Tuesday and
Wednesday, the ministry has organized a series of professional development
workshops for all teachers at various venues. These sessions also include the
principals from both primary and secondary schools who are expected to attend a
workshop tailored particularly for them,” he disclosed.
For example, teachers from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 2 will have their sessions at
the Villa Primary School with Grades 3 to 6 teachers meeting at the Clare Hall
Secondary School. Special Education Needs teachers will meet at the Antigua
Grammar School.
The sessions for the principals take place at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium while
Industrial Technology teachers will gather at the Cortsland Hotel.
Following the professional development sessions, the teachers will return to their
respective schools on Thursday and Friday to complete final preparations ahead of
the start of the 2023-2024 School Year on September 4.
Meanwhile, Browne said the Board of Education has been busy all summer
carrying out repairs to the school plants. “The Board of Education has been doing
the work of carrying out the repairs requested by the principals at our various
schools, These include the physical structure of the schools themselves as well as
for critical areas, such as ensuring that the bathrooms at all the school plants are in
working condition. They have also repaired or supplied new furniture to many of
our schools,” Browne stated.
There are thirty primary schools in Antigua and Barbuda and thirteen secondary
schools.