Educators Complete Aspiring Principals’ Programme at NCEL

Fifty-five educators across Jamaica have been conferred with the Professional Qualification for Principalship, following their successful completion of the Aspiring Principals’ Programme.

The postgraduate-level programme is delivered by the National College for Educational Leadership (NCEL), in partnership with the University of the West Indies (UWI), with the goal of improving the administration of schools across the island.

In her keynote address at Friday’s (June 14) presentation ceremony, held at the UWI Regional Headquarters in St. Andrew, Minister of Education and Youth, Hon. Fayval Williams, emphasised that the Aspiring Principals’ Programme is an important initiative.

“It increases awareness, gives participants a sense of the requirements, so that once they step into that job they will be ready on day one, ready for any eventuality. I know that in our schools today, different things are emerging that principals of 30 years ago, 20 years ago, maybe even 10 years ago didn’t have to encounter, so I charge NCEL to ensure that the programme content is evolving to reflect the new realities of today and of tomorrow,” the Minister said.

Mrs. Williams shared that the programme was rigorous, comprehensive and provided participants with invaluable hands-on experience and a deep understanding of the challenges and rewards of school leadership.

“You are the future leaders of our education landscape. Congratulations to each of you for the passion you bring to the noble profession of education,” she said.

For her part, NCEL Interim Director/Principal, Winnie Berry, commended the cohort for completing the programme amid varying challenges.

“We appreciate your grit graduands, your astuteness and your desire to become world-class educational leaders and we look forward to your continued contributions to our education system,” she said.

The programme focused on four critical modules – transformational leadership, instructional leadership, community leadership and organisational leadership.

After engagement with the modules, participants did a 12-week field experience, in which they gathered data on the school to which they are attached and used the theories and concepts taught to address an institutional issue.

“You are ready to lead your profession in ways that will demonstrate that the way we learn has changed and will continue to change. Now more than ever, we must focus on strengthening the capacity of school leaders to be responsive to the rapid changes of our time,” Mrs. Berry said.

She highlighted that since the start of the year, NCEL has seen a 200 per cent increase in the number of applicants in all programmes offered by the entity.

“This shows that more persons are recognising the value of the programmes and courses authored by the NCEL in preparing effective educational leaders,” Mrs. Berry said.