Sixty-three public school administrators who are graduates of the Institute for Educational Leadership were recognised and celebrated for their achievements at a pinning ceremony recently.

The administrators successfully completed a 12-month eight modular course that was launched in 2007 by the Ministry of Education in partnership with the College of The Bahamas. The graduates were pinned by Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes.

Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald told the graduates that the government and citizens are expecting and demanding more of the educational system.

“They are looking to you to lead the way to better results and students who are equipped with the knowledge, skills, character and patriotism to build a better Bahamas,” he said.

“The government is adamant in its stance that no child should be left behind for any reason. This is one of the primary goals reflected in the Charter for Governance which states that education is the key to empowerment.”

The system must afford each child opportunities to identify and prepare for a career best suited to their interests and strengths which will allow them to be self-sufficient, contributing members of society, Minister Fitzgerald said.

He urged administrators to be courageous and willing to ensure that when students leave school they are equipped with a skill or understanding that enables them to get a job.

“This thrust should be one of the primary goals of all of our school leaders,” he said.

With over $2 million pumped into the institute to date, Minister Fitzgerald expressed interest in the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit’s findings with regard to the impact of the programme on the operations of schools.

“The reality is that this investment must garner a return and if it is not doing so we have to explore the reasons and make adjustment for maximum productivity,” said the minister.

He emphasised that the government is determined to raise the regard which Bahamians have for applied academics; subjects that require the acquisition of hands-on training and skills.

“Raising the acceptance of applied academics in the curriculum should therefore be one of the new modules of this programme,” he said.

Two hundred and sixty three administrators from New Providence, Grand Bahama and the Family Islands have participated in the programme thus far.

The curriculum includes: theories and principles of leadership, school environment, developing staff and community relations, research and evaluation, curriculum development, delivery and assessment and school finance.

The goals of the programme are to provide professional development opportunities for public school administrators, offer certified standardised leadership training for all public school administrators and allow the inclusion of leadership certification as a new criterion for the promotion of school administrators.