A growing vision

achievement for all. Therefore, there is need for the College to adjust its programme offerings to meet the emerging needs and trends. For example, the establishment of the THROUGHOUT the 70 years of its existence, Erdiston Teachers’ Training College has held fast to the objective enunciated by its first principal, A. W.

Roberts: “To provide a body of specially trained men and women who are capable of making the most of every child’s abilities, however great or small, and helping children to become men and women who can give of themselves to the community in which they live rather than being a charge upon it” (Roberts, 1948). This was the aim of the fledging College. However, as we look towards the next 70 years and beyond, we must broaden this vision.

In the regard, the vision statement articulated in the College’s strategic plan of 2015-2020 is instructive. It states that Erdiston College “will be a globally recognised institution delivering quality training that empowers individuals to become innovative educators”. Teacher empowerment is a central component in efforts to improve education quality for all students. Education is too dynamic an exercise for training and professional development not to be continuous.

In fact, Erdiston College must become part of the solution to the education problems at the national level. It must deliver professional development courses that will provide opportunities for continued capacity building and enhancement of skills of educators.

Erdiston College will establish a strong research agenda that will inform its practice and educational policies and initiatives. Research is a mechanism for assisting the College and by extension the Barbadian educational system in studying phenomena and implementing changes in a scientific way to improve the system. Consequently, Erdiston College is stimulating an interest in research among tutors, school leaders, student teachers, and teachers in schools.

More importantly, since empirical research should drive practice and initiatives in education, Erdiston College has plans to spearhead research in the schools and then disseminate the information among teachers and ministry’s officials, assisting them to making interventions based on the findings.

In 1972, the then Minister of Education, the Honourable Erskine Sandiford said that the role of Erdiston was “to meet the needs of a growing and changing Barbados”.

That early vision has not waned; rather it has been intensified. As a matter of fact, the current Government of Barbados indicates that we need to broaden the education system, and reform our curriculum and teaching methods in order to ensure equal opportunity for personal growth and

• Continued on next page.

THE ACADEMIC staff of the Erdiston Teachers’ Training College. ( csg>