Jamaica urges school principals to access leadership training online

#KINGSTON, March 25 (JIS):  Director/Principal of the National College for Educational Leadership (NCEL), Dr. Taneisha Ingleton, is encouraging school principals and administrators who are at home due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) to utilise its online platforms to continue their leadership training.

            She says that through the entity’s website, YouTube and Facebook pages, programme participants can access a range of video and audio clips on various topics.

           These include curriculum implementation, visioning, teacher leadership, emotional intelligence in leadership, and partnership and stakeholder engagement.   

“The college went full speed in developing video and audio around these topics so that our principals can be kept engaged during crises like the COVID-19.             

            “These bite-size videos facilitate principal and leaders who are on the go and are seeking new ways and approaches to improve and enhance his or her practice,” she notes.

            “Now that the principals are at home, they have over 30 learning videos they can access to learn different approaches to leadership,” she adds.                                                               NCEL was established in 2011 to equip school leaders with the competencies required to ensure that schools operate effectively in an increasingly demanding environment.

            To achieve its mandate, NCEL provides continuous professional development for leaders across the education sector with a view to building on existing competencies and to keep them abreast of current practices and trends.

                Dr. Ingleton says NCEL recognises the importance of technology in delivering its programmes, and for the past two years has developed its online platforms “to ensure that stakeholders are consistently engaged whenever and wherever they are”.       

            She notes that the COVID-19 pandemic provides an opportunity for programme participants to complete courses online and at their own pace.

             “I think, in hindsight, we were preparing for something like this,” she says.

            “I am happy that NCEL has all of these online platforms that are fully supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information,” Dr. Ingleton adds.

            Meanwhile, Acting Principal of the Duanvale Primary School in Trelawny, Beverly Canningan, who accessed training through NCEL’s online platforms, says in addition to the leadership training, she is also better equipped technologically to lead her team at this time.

            “With the challenges COVID-19 presents, because of the access that I have during my training, I am more proficient in the use of online platforms,” she tells JIS News.

            “ I have been using videoconferencing to keep in touch with my team, so we are able to have a full day of school even though we are away from the physical plant,” she notes.                                              

            Principal of the Ferncourt High School in St. Ann, Sheldon Thomas, who participated in the College’s Child-friendly School programme recently, credited his exposure to the content, which was fully administered online, with being able to ensure that students are engaged in the teaching and learning processes during the COVID-19 crisis. 

            He notes that lessons are delivered through Facebook, WhatsApp, and are also uploaded to a Google site.              

JIS News by JUDITH A. HUNTER