Latest update April 7th, 2026 12:30 AM
Expanding collaboration crucial to CPCE’s improvement – CEO
The Ministry of Education has long recognised that in order for the country’s premier teachers training institution to better its output, it must seek to widen its collaboration.
Students and lecturers at CPCE flank a Literacy display at a recent Open Day.
Moreover, a categorical appeal was vocalised by Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam, who during a recent forum at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE)’s, Turkeyen Campus, insisted that “we need to forge greater links with other institutions within the Region and internationally to accommodate consistent sharing of best practices at all levels.”
According to Sam, the Ministry had envisioned that there would be sharing, in this regard, between CPCE and the University of Guyana, specifically the School of Education and Humanities, a move that has already been formalised.
Currently, the two institutions are working closely to offer the Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Education (B.Ed). This comes as part of moves to improve teachers’ education while the graduates of CPCE are able to complete the programme at UG. Previously, completing the programme spanned a period of seven years, but with the refined collaboration it is now possible in four years.
What is obtained now is that trainee teachers are required to undertake two years of the Associate Degree in Education (ADE) programme at CPCE, and then continue at UG for another two years to complete the B.Ed.
This strategic move was in fact prompted by the concerns of education officials, over the years, in relation to the length of time it takes to train a teacher to the level of the B.Ed.
In the past, trainee teachers had to undertake the Teachers’ Certificate programme at CPCE then return to their respective schools to work for two years, then proceed to UG to do the one-year Certificate in Education programme before moving on to a four-year B.Ed programme.
And according to Sam, as he focused his attention to teachers in training, “I am waiting with bated breath for the next topic to be floated to the Ministry of Education, so that we can all share in some of the proper planning and the wisdom emerging from the experts at CPCE.”
He, in his deliberations, was keen to point out that there are currently tremendous resources at UG that could ultimately benefit CPCE trainees. “I really am eager to have us move this process forward so that the actual fence that separate these two campuses, can be removed and we can certainly share one holistic vision in relation to what is going on with education at this post secondary and tertiary level, and I would love to see that happen in the not too distant future,” admitted the CEO.
He noted that while there are wide ranging succession planning discussions that are ongoing to help better the institution, there is yet a need to attract the best and brightest individuals to become lecturers. Moreover, the CEO expressed his conviction that “in total I really feel this is an exciting time to be a part of the CPCE environment, because it is highly progressive with lofty goals being discussed and not just discussed, but with grounding in relation to how we are going to actually achieve them.”
And even as he emphasised his belief that it is a good time to be linked to the institution, Sam lauded the efforts of the principals and other “movers and shakers” including the Vice Principal, Head of Departments and other senior lecturers who, he said, always embraced a transformation vision. “I know that the Principal is leading by example in her PhD studies and I know we have a number of lecturers still in the midst of their Masters Degree programmes,” Sam intimated.
As such, he noted that the students of the institution should therefore be challenging those tasked with delivering their education, even demanding of them their best and ensuring that the quality of educational output is on par with any teacher training institution in the world. “You will have the honour of knowing that you were part of the transformation of this institution and I really urge you all to stick to the programme and see this through to its logical end,” Sam urged the teachers in training.
Moves towards the transformation of CPCE comes even as the Ministry of Education is seriously considering having only trained teachers placed in the school system.
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