Teaching & Learning: Teaching and learning are closely related and may be described as "two sides of the same coin." Learning is defined as the process of acquiring, retaining, storing and applying knowledge. While teaching is defined as the process that promotes, encourages and facilitates learning.
Teaching skills are behavioural characteristics used by teachers when teaching a class: Involving all pupils in the lesson. Using a variety of learning methods. Applying teaching methods appropriately to national curriculum objectives. Using a variety of questioning techniques to probe students' knowledge and understanding.
Characteristics of the effective teacher: High expectations for pupils. Uses structured and planned approach for all lessons. Employs flexible teaching strategies. Clear strategy for pupil management. Manages time and resources wisely. Uses a range of assessment techniques.
Classroom climate: This refers to the perceptions by students of what it feels like to be a student in any particular teacher's classroom. Clarity around the purpose of each lesson. Order and discipline within the classroom. Fairness or the degree to which there is freedom from favouritism and consistent links between rewards in the classroom and actual performance. Equal participation. Support. This is the feeling of emotionally support in the classroom. Safety. The degree to which the classroom is a safe place. Interest. Environment.
Teaching may be used for learning, but is not necessary for learning to take place. Since self learning is possible with adults, mature students and those who are highly motivated and receptive to learning. Teaching facilitates learning and the use of effective teaching methods can even promote and motivate students to learn better and faster. Some of the concepts used in learning include the following:
Concepts in learning: Learning is shaped by the learner's prior knowledge. Much learning occurs through social interaction. Learning is closely tied to particular situations. Successful learning involves the use of numerous strategies.
Learning is an important avenue for the development of human capital and to increase human potential and resources. Effective learning is accomplished through an effective educational system. Human capital: Human capital refers to the availability of skills, competencies, educational levels and other characteristics of individuals that can contribute positively to social and economic development.
It is believed that well trained, competent and well compensated human capital is needed for success in education. These components may be lacking in the educational system in Trinidad and may account for discontentment and discord, leading to low morale and mediocrity in the teaching service. Human capital is closely related to human development, since either one cannot occur without the other. Human development is necessary for economic growth and development and is utmost importance in any educational system.
Human Development: Human development is made up of four essential components; equity, sustainability, productivity and empowerment.
Equity: Equity is regarded as a basic human right in the human development paradigm. It serves to enlarge people's choices by providing readily available access to opportunities, goods and services. Equity is built on the foundation that all individuals, regardless of race, sex, ethnic, political, social and economic status must be able to develop their human capabilities to the fullest and to put those capabilities to the best use in all areas of their lives.
Equity is another serious issue in the delivery of quality education in Trinidad. The needs of primary school are often neglected or not given the priority it deserves. Early Childhood Care and Education is a serious issue and needs urgent attention.
Sustainability: Sustainability is defined as the ability of society and governments to maintain the delivery of goods and services to all people at all times. It essentially means maintaining all forms of capital at a constant level; physical, human, financial and environmental. Sustainability is an essential feature of human development ensuring that everyone should have equal access to developmental opportunities in the present and in the future.
Sustainability in the education system in Trinidad is greatly lacking. Low levels of academic achievement, unacceptable distribution of secondary school places, absence of effective human resource management in the teaching service coupled with limited financial resources makes the present educational system unsustainable and needs immediate corrective actions.
Productivity: Productivity refers to the delivery of goods and services in a given time period. It requires investments in people and an enabling macroeconomic environment in order to achieve maximum potential.
Productivity may be low in the education system because of low morale through ineffective selection, recruitment, promotion policies and practices. Poor infrastructure limited financial resources and human resource management issues have compounded and negatively impacted on productivity of teachers and the delivery of quality education.
Empowerment: Empowerment is the provision of essential tools through education and opportunities that serve to improve the overall lives of people and increase their living standard. The present education system in Trinidad lacks any meaningful empowerment. In the first instance teachers are provided with limited tools and infrastructure that are not sufficient to effectively teach and make a positive contribution. In the second instance students are not receiving the quality education they deserve because of inefficiencies and lack of any proper benchmarks of quality.
Development of Human Capacity: Developing the human capacity is an important aspect of human development that impacts positively on productivity and economic growth. It serves to ask the following questions: What human resources are available in the country? What levels of education exist? What skills are available in the country? What are the unemployment and underemployment rates? What are the income distribution profiles between different groups; the low, middle and upper class employees?
Developing the human capacity is wanting in the present educational system. Despite the presence of skilled and qualified teachers there is a need for continuous training and upgrading. Even though there is a seventy percent transition of students from primary to secondary schools this percentage should be increased continuously. The education system should aim for a hundred percent transition rate from primary school to secondary school using the appropriate benchmarks as accepted criteria. This may be accomplished by developing and implementing an effective education reform policy to correct identified deficiencies.
Conclusions: The education system is deficient in several ways: (1) Ineffective human resource management at the level of the Ministry of Education and also at the level of the primary school. (2) Ineffective allocation of financial resources to early childhood care and education. (3) Poor infrastructure maintenance of schools. (4) Low morale among teachers. (5) Lack of suitable benchmarks as acceptable criteria in the primary school system. (6) Inadequate promotion and recognition policies for advancement of teachers. (7) Poor educational attainment by students. (8) Lack of sufficient secondary school places in some districts. (9) Ineffective learning. (10) Urgent need to develop and implement an effective education reform policy that places students and teachers first among the list of priorities.
Reference: Education Taskforce Committee. 2004. Education Policy Paper (1993-2003). Trinidad: Author. Pattron, D.D. 2007. Learning Disabilities: Early Detection & Corrective Actions. Ringgold GA: Ideamarketers.
About the Author
Dr. Pattron is a Public Health Scientist, Scholar and Researcher.