3rd September,2019

#15 Sixth Street East,

De La Marre Avenue,

Trincity.

Dear Kaya,

In my formative years, preschool and primary school, I learned very

quickly and performed well in school. As a result, in enjoyed school even though I
was always nervous around test time. When I transitioned to secondary school, it
was then that I realised that my mother was a teacher and a secondary school
teacher at that. In secondary school I was always willing to help my classmates to
understand anything that they needed help with in class. I was often told that I
explain things well and I that I would make a good teacher. I didn’t really consider
the profession, I wanted to be a Sport’s Doctor and still do to some extent. Only
when I completed secondary school and started university that my mother started
suggesting teaching to me. I was still reluctant but went through the registration
process. As luck would have it, as soon as I graduated I got a call from Service
Commission to interview as a teacher and the rest is history.

Since I started teaching in 2003 the question about doing Dip. Ed. has been banded
about and I never took any serious interest. The most I did was to interview
colleagues who had just completed the course or had done so years ago. Very few
had encouraging remarks as they weren’t really seeing the benefit of their new
knowledge in the classroom due to indiscipline or lack of resources. This led me to
conclude that it was a waste of time. Within the past three years I have been
pressured and hounded to do the course from Curriculum officers and other school
administrators. In my CSEC classes over the years I have made changes in how a
teach and tried different strategies which have increased the pass rate in my subject,
however, this made no difference in the opinion of the administrators. So here I am
to see what all the hype is about. As with most teachers, Dip Ed. grads and non-Dip.
Ed. grads alike, I have struggled with: student indiscipline and lack of motivation,
lack of resources, and low personal morale.

This new Dip. Ed. program being the first of its kind (online tuition) is bound to have
its teething problems which could be a major stumbling block. However, teaming up
with my colleagues would be a good way to overcome them. Apart from that I am
one who is willing to learn topics of personal interest, so I hope that the topics of
study or even the delivery of these course can spark my interest in some way. I’m
trying to have an open mind about it.

I will most definitely be a different person after this Dip. Ed experience, in what way
is left to be seen. My wife has expressed an interest in migrating to Europe so if that
does manifest itself having this certification will improve my chances of obtaining
employment which is a good motivating factor. So, I hope to accomplish successful
completion of this course as we never know what the future holds for us and
everything learnt makes us better prepared for opportunities that may come.

Regards

Kaya Bishop