Principals from seventeen public and private schools in zone three will begin their 2nd annual retreat on Wednesday 18 June, under the theme “only getting better.”

The two-day event, which will be held at the multi-purpose centre aims to offer training opportunities for principals, discuss plans for the next academic year, and to boost principal’s morale, who at times work under difficult circumstances.

Facilitators for the retreat will be drawn from the Ministries of Education and Finance, and will address several topics to include: strategic and operational planning (zonal and school) levels, a common discipline policy, educational change and school improvement, leading my school in an exemplary way, and preparing budgets and financial statements.

Mrs. Desiree Antonio, Education Officer Zone Three says they are hoping to build on the success of last year’s retreat. She underscored the importance of hosting such events, noting:

“There is quite a bit of work to be done, I am always for improvement. That’s one of the reasons for having these retreats and meetings, as they prove beneficial for principals. There are times when we do not do things collaboratively, which generate a lot of human resource waste, so the efforts are to bring everyone together and utilize our resources in the best way possible.”

One of the training sessions last November facilitated by consultant Shirlene Nibbs dealt with policy writing, through which the zone principals are now working to create a common discipline policy for students who attend schools in the zone. That’s an area which will be reviewed on Thursday.

The three-day retreat will begin from 9am to 3pm daily.

The seventeen schools located in zone 3 are:

Baptist Academy, Bendals Junior Secondary, Buckley’s Primary, Cobbs Cross Primary, Foundation Mixed School, Freemansville Primary, Greenville Junior Secondary, Irene B. Williams Junior Secondary, Island Academy, J.T Ambrose Junior Secondary, John Hughes Primary, Sevent Day Adventist Primary, Liberta Junior Secondary, Minoah Magnet Academy, New Bethel SDA, Seaview Farm Primary and St. John’s Lutheran.

For further information contact:

Phil R. George
Communications Officer
Ministry of Education
Telephone: (268) 462-463-5547
Fax: (268) 462-4970