Cognition PD Facilitators Preparing for the First Training Workshops in 2023
In January, eighteen (18) Cognition Professional Development Facilitators (PDFs) who train teachers and school leaders in Solomon Islands in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD), have been preparing intensively for delivery of their first training workshops in 2023.
In January, there were 2 weeks of preparation led by Dr Susanne Owen, a Capacity Development Advisor contracted by Cognition. Staff from MEHRD and the
Education Authorities (EAs) attended this workshop. Together, the Facilitators, MEHRD staff and EA staff reflected on the workshops delivered in 2022 for 200 primary and junior secondary schools. They also worked on the new workshops that EA staff will deliver in April for 20 selected schools (Phase 2). All training attendees worked together to improve their facilitation and PD delivery skills.
The 2022-2023 PD program aims to improve teaching and school leadership knowledge and skills in 500 selected schools in all provinces. Also, the PD program is to help Education Authorities prepare for their new delegated tasks. From 2023 onwards they will be more responsible for providing education services to all children and students in their schools. Provincial Education Officers (PEOs) and church authorities in Solomon Islands will therefore visit schools and school leaders more regularly, to help them improve learning outcomes and leadership.
2023 will be a busy year. In Term One there are follow-up workshops for all 200 schools involved in 2022. The follow-up workshops will last 2 days and focus on School Leaders and Lead Teachers. From Terms One to Three the Facilitators and EA staff will run workshops for 300 new schools, as well workshops for the 20 selected schools. Facilitators and attendees will work on the themes of instructional leadership, positive discipline, and teaching of reading.
The 18 PD facilitators continued their preparations for a busy year in the Cognition office in Honiara. They had 3 internal meetings from Monday 13 till Wednesday 15, February, with the aim of improving their presentation and facilitation skills, and their knowledge of the different themes.
In an open atmosphere, Facilitators observed presentations and gave suggestions to each other about how to improve their presentations, their communication and explanation skills, and how to build enthusiasm and engagement in lessons.
After a period of working intensively together the Cognition PD Facilitator team is ready to start their important work for the 2023 school year.
-MEHRD Press