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Ministry Of Education To Expand Behaviour Intervention Programme In Schools

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KINGSTON, Sept. 28(JIS): BY: JUDITH A. HUNTER
An additional 1,800 administrators and teachers from 25 schools islandwide will be selected to participate in the Positive Behavioural Intervention and Support (PBIS) programme, being implemented by the Ministry of Education during the 2015/16 academic year.

They will represent the second cohort, following the initial 1,400 participants chosen from 24 institutions for the programme, which was first implemented during 2014/15, as part of the Ministry’s response to curbing violence in schools.

The initiative, being undertaken in collaboration with the Jamaica Theological Seminary (JTS), aims to create a healthy learning environment through organized evidence-based interventions, by targeting specialized training for principals, vice principals, deans of discipline, guidance counsellors, teachers, and ancillary staff.
The PBIS, which has recorded significant success in other countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom, fosters a disciplined and structured environment for dealing with issues such as violence in schools.

Clinical psychologist, behaviour analyst, and PBIS team leader at the JTS, Geraldine Garwood, tells JIS News that the programme represents a “systematic approach” to addressing inappropriate behaviour exhibited by students, while helping to enhance their academic performance.

“We collaborate with the Ministry of Education, based on the needs that they have in the schools to deal with inappropriate behaviour and low academic performances,” Ms. Garwood explains, pointing out that participating schools are selected by the Ministry based on these areas.

Data is collected from the schools, prior to the programme’s implementation, which entails, among other things, training sessions for teachers and administrators.

These sessions are held for three hours per day, over three consecutive days, following which the participants are
given a time frame to establish the PBIS system in their schools while the JTS monitors the implementation.
Additional data is collected at the end of the academic year for comparative analyses, to determine the programme’s effectiveness.

“Students are taught expected behaviours the schools design for them, based on the schools’ policies and systems,” she notes.

In pointing out that some schools are more advanced in the system’s implementation than others, Ms. Garwood informs that several institutions have established PBIS walls.

“They have placed expected behaviours on notice boards in different areas on the school compound, and they are reporting that they are seeing success from it,” she advises.

Ms. Garwood further informs that the expected behaviours are taught through a system which outlines how students should operate in this regard, which include a reinforcement and consequence.

The consequence system, she explains, deals with inappropriate behaviour, while the reinforcement system focuses on appropriate behaviour.

Ms. Garwood says the ultimate goal of the PBIS programme is to create a culture in each school that fosters morally upright behaviour and academic excellence for all students, and a harmonious environment of respect between all members of the school community including student and teachers.

Teacher and chairman of the PBIS Committee at Bustamante High School in Clarendon, Leo Mantock, says the programme has great potential.

“We see this initiative as the game changer in our schools. During this year’s Grade Seven orientation, we made sure to get the parents on board; and we will also use our Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA) meetings to reinforce to (them) the importance of the programme, not only for behavioural change, but also how it can increase academic performance because (of) the correlation between the student behavior and academics,” he outlines.

Mr. Mantock says, thus far, the parents are showing the greatest support, adding that “we want these students to be the change group and the benchmark, going forward, with the PBIS.”

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DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM REGULATIONS INTRODUCES “RATE YOUR RIDE” SYSTEM FOR TOURISTS VISITING THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

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FROM THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 27th March, 2024 – Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands: The Department of Tourism Regulations is proud to unveil the “Rate Your Ride” system, a new initiative designed to enhance the vacation experience for tourists exploring our picturesque islands.

The “Rate Your Ride” system empowers tourists to provide valuable feedback on the quality of transportation services they receive while visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands. Through an easy-to-use online form, tourists can rate factors such as cleanliness, comfort, safety, and professionalism of drivers, helping us to assure the highest quality of service standards across all modes of transportation.

By participating in the “Rate Your Ride” system, tourists play a crucial role in shaping the future of transportation services in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Their feedback will enable us to identify areas for improvement and ensure that every visitor enjoys safe, comfortable, and convenient travel throughout their stay in the Turks and Caicos.

The code will also be publicly accessible through the cooperation of volunteer drivers who will make the rating code available in their vehicles. Flyers and stickers displaying the code will be distributed at hotels, resorts and airports. The mandated display of these codes is expected to align with the rollout of our tourism regulations in 2025.

For more information about the “Rate Your Ride” system and other initiatives by the Department of Tourism Regulations, please visit gov.tc/tourismregulations/or contact us via telephone at 946-4970 and email at tourismregulations@gov.tc.

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THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIOURAL HEALTH SERVICES CONDEMNS RECORDING OF PERSONS WHO ARE IN CRISIS

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FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 27th March 2024– The Department of Behavioral Health Services is appealing to the general public to refrain from recording and circulating videos of persons who may appear to be experiencing a mental health crisis. Anyone can experience a mental health crisis at some point in their life. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem in any given year. Persons may struggle with very common conditions such as Anxiety and Depression or be diagnosed with more serious conditions like Bipolar Disorder or Psychosis.

“There are a lot of misunderstandings about various mental health conditions and how they may manifest. In addition, there are a number of negative perceptions and misconceptions that society exhibits towards people with mental health problems. However, just as we would show care and concern for someone diagnosed with Cancer, or any other physical illness, in the same way, we need to be as caring and helpful to persons with mental illnesses”– stated Director of the Department of Behavioral Health Services, Dr. Alicia Malcolm.

The Department is urging the public to call the following numbers if you see someone who appears to be experiencing a mental health crisis:

338-5473/338-3616: Providenciales, North or Middle Caicos

338-3614/338-3612: Grand Turk, South Caicos, Salt Cay

338-6301: Nights and Weekends

If someone is putting themselves or someone else in immediate, serious risk of harm, call 911.

The Department of Behavioral Health services is here to help and provides the following services which are free and confidential:

Location of above services:

o             Sam Harvey Building, Down Town, Providenciales,

o             Primary Health Care Department, Cheshire Hall Medical Center, Providenciales 

o             Department of Behavioural Health, Duncombe Alley, Grand Turk

 

Let’s all do our part in creating a community where people with mental health problems feel respected, supported and cared for. 

For additional information, please visit the Ministry of Health’s Facebook page on https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/ or the Department of Behavioral Health Services Faceebook on https://www.facebook.com/TCIDBHS/.

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Breaking Ground: TCI Could Lead in Regional Communication Standards

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Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom, 27th March 2024: The PR, marketing, and communications sector is poised for potential growth and could lead the Caribbean region in terms of industry standards says Damian Wilson. Wilson’s suggestion comes after the release of a new research report into the current trends and future direction of the sector as a possible emerging industry in the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI).

Wilson is the report’s author, which conveys the findings of research which he initiated. “One of the key research results is the considerable optimism by industry practitioners and government alike, with persons seeing growth potential. I believe that we can become regional leaders in this field. I believe that one of the initiatives that could be used to do this is by establishing a ‘TCI Centre of Communications Excellence’ within the TCI Community College. Such an institute would be dedicated to communication and media innovation with a particular focus on digital communications and ICT,” says Wilson.

He further explained, “I believe that the PR, marketing, and communications sector, like much of the country, is at a crossroads and could have an even greater impact on our socio-economic fabric. Some may have concerns about our small size, but I believe this makes us far more agile than our neighbours. All in all, any potential growth must be underpinned by new investments, professional development, and a strategy to integrate the sector into the broader economy.”

Wilson also said that he sees his research as a first step in understanding our own industry sectors in the TCI and would love to see more profound research and analysis conducted. He’s hoping that the report will spark discussion along those lines. The report is entitled ‘Current Trends and Future Direction: A Preliminary Report on the PR, Marketing, and Communications Sector in the Turks & Caicos Islands’. Anyone wanting a copy of the report can contact Damian Wilson via his email, damian.wilson.pr@gmail.com.

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