Minister of Education, Ronald??Jones (FP)??
The Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development is fully committed to the work of the National Council of Parent Teacher Associations (NCPTA), and will continue to offer that organisation both financial and technical assistance.
This pledge was made by Minister of Education, Ronald Jones, while speaking ahead of last weekend’s NCPTA’s executive council elections at the St. Michael School.
"There is currently no representative from the NCPTA on the National Committee on Education (NACE), but once the executive is established, I will put in place the necessary instruments for a member of the NCPTA to sit on that advisory committee.?? Know that you will be engaged, at least twice yearly, so that we can exchange ideas [and] views on the development of education in Barbados and keep our children on the cutting edge of knowledge and information," he stated.
Mr. Jones also made a call for the NCPTA executive to ensure that it becomes an effective and vigorous body, which works to advance the cause of students in the education system.?? One way to do this, he advised, was to increase the intake of funds from individual Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) on the island.
"The sum of one hundred dollars per annum, which is currently what each PTA pays, is inadequate to ensure the effective running of a secretariat.?? Even when added to the $25, 000 given yearly by the Ministry of Education, that is not enough for the NCPTA to function," the Minister suggested.
He also encouraged parents at the meeting to be more active in the PTA organisations at their respective schools.?? "The "P" in PTA is very important….?? Do not abandon the care of your children to anyone else.?? Care and nurturing belongs to families and parents.?? Do not wait until the 11 plus to demonstrate an interest in your children, that would be too late," Mr. Jones cautioned.
The newly elected executive of the PTA are: President, Rhonda Blackman; teacher at the Sharon Primary School; First Vice President, Andrew Greene (Harrison College, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, NULL, NULL, 0); Second Vice President, Peter Burgess (St. Paul’s Primary, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, NULL, NULL, 0); General Secretary, Reverend Winston Jones (Olga Millar Nursery, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, NULL, NULL, 0); Treasurer, Ricardo Vickers (Charles F. Broome, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, NULL, NULL, 0); Assistant Secretary/Treasurer, Reuben Sealy (St. James Secondary, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, NULL, NULL, 0); and Public Relations Officer, Donna Sealy (Deacon’s Primary).
The five council members are Erwin Jones (Charles F. Broome), Shone Gibbs (Wesley Hall Junior), Marlyn Olton (St. Judes Primary), Nicholas Maynard (St. Stephens Primary) and Malcolm Leacock (St. Andrew Primary).