New year resolutions for stakeholders of education systems


Every New Year brings a set of challenges, some new, some carried over from the old year. And every New Year we make resolutions, some personal, some career related, that we hope we will fulfill in the year. This year, I am suggesting a number of resolutions for stakeholders in the education system.

Workers in the Ministry of Education

  • To be more responsive to the needs of clients than they were last year. For example, respond to queries in a timely fashion
  • Improve the channels of communication between the Ministry and the schools
  • Ensure transparency in decision making as regards policy implementation
  • Try to really understand the nature of their jobs and the interrelationship of their jobs with other jobs
  • Research the issues that come up for decision and think before they speak

 Boards of Management

  • Learn about job; learn about the education system; read and try to understand the Code of Education and its provision
  • Hold principals accountable
  • Have a plan to improve the schools for which responsible
  • Listen to principals but also listen to teachers, students and other staff
  • Offer timely and sensible advice to the Minister

Principals

  • Have faith in Vice-Principals and support staff
  • Sensibly delegate responsibilities to Vice-principals
  • Take advantage of the training courses offered by the National College of Leadership (NCL)
  • Arrange Continuous Professional Development (CPD) activities for staff
  • Develop knowledge and use of the Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) that are available
  • Try to lead by example

 Teachers

  • Familiarise selves with the Information and Telecommunication technologies (ICTs) that students are using; where possible try to incorporate them in teaching
  • Take advantage of training opportunities when they become available
  • Build on the knowledge gained from college and/university
  • Try to enjoy the job
  • Try to understand every student in class


Students

  • Always try to learn something new from each class every day
  • Try harder to understand school work than was done in the past
  • Demand more from teachers than they sometimes give
  • Try to balance study and play
  • Try to be honest with self about ability

Parents

  • Help children to set goals
  • Try to understand the issues with which children are trying to cope on a daily basis
  • Give advice even when children do not ask for it
  • Support teachers and school
  • Help children with homework or seek help for them if can’t help
  • Accept the frailties of children; you were once children
  • Don’t place unreasonable demands on children; have realistic expectations of them

At the end of the year, we may find that we did not fully fulfil all our resolutions. But at least we would have tried to make a positive change in the way in which we approached the tasks with which we were challenged. And, we will continue the process the following year.
Have a great new year of realised possibilities!
                                                                                                             Photo credit: pixabay.com



https://amazon.com/author/janettefuller
I am an Educator with many years of experience in the profession. I am also the author of two books, Investing in our success: A glimpse into our world and The Teacher's Gift. Look out for more titles as I am in the process of writing other books, exploring a myriad of issues in society. In addition, I blog about issues in education here and about the art of writing and  my books in a sister blog. Feel free to follow me on Facebook by clicking on the icon at the top left corner of this page. I welcome your comments, so feel free to start a conversation by leaving your comments below.


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