[Website and menu best viewed in Internet Explorer Browser] Return to List of Programmes Offered B.Ed. in Primary and Early Childhood Education (CITE - Consortium of Institutions for Teacher Education) The country is demanding better trained teachers. Teachers that are confident and competent to meet the myriad demands of the learner, the complex nature of the learning environment and the dynamics of a changing society. As a result, The Task Force on Educational Reform established by former Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. J. Patterson, recommended that teachers entering the profession should have a minimum of a Bachelor's degree. In order to realize the national vision the ten colleges offering teacher education programmes at the diploma level, viz; Bethlehem Moravian College, College of Agriculture, Science and Education, Church Teachers' College, Edna Manley College, G.C. Foster College, Mico University College, Moneague College, Sam Sharpe Teachers' College, Shortwood Teachers' College and St. Joseph's Teachers' College formed the Consortium of Institutions for Teacher Education (C.I.T.E.). <<more on the Consortium>> The Bachelor in Education degree programme which began in January 2007 is delivered on a part-time basis over 4 semesters. CITE Courses Semester I Semester II Semester III Semester IV Primary Education Mathematics 3 credits English 3 credits Communications Skills 3 credits Professional Studies 3 credits 3 credits 3 credits Elective 3 credits 3 credits General Education 3 credits 3 credits Specialisation 6 credits 3 credits 6 credits Semester I Semester II Semester III Semester IV Early Childhood Education Communication Skills 3 credits Professional Studies 3 credits Curriculum in Early Childhood Education: Infant and Toddler 3 credits Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Early Childhood 3 credits The teaching approach will be both learner-centred and interactive. It is intended to focus on practice and application and to encourage reflective and analytic classroom practice leading to a strengthened knowledge base. Students will be helped to take a problem-solving approach to teaching and to use critical judgment on applying principles of teaching and learning. Vision of the Consortium Currently Teacher Training Institutions offer degree programmes awarded by the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ), the University of the West Indies (UWI) or in partnership with other universities abroad. The Consortium will provide a forth option - a strengthening and sharing. World wide there is a growing trend for Tertiary institutions to form consortia for economic and administrative reasons. The Consortium is envisaged as Enhancing and improving the capacity and capability of colleges to respond in a more timely and efficient manner to developmental challenges within teacher education. The current arrangements utilized for the award of degrees do not allow for timely responses to emerging challenges; Articulating the Diploma and Degree programmes, providing relevance and easy progression through the profession. For e.g. it will ensure that there is little or no duplication of courses/course content between the Diploma and the Degree programmes thereby guaranteeing maximum and optimal utilization of time and resources; Providing a common framework in which to continue offering teacher education programmes. This aspect of Teacher Education programme has resulted in Jamaica being the leader in the delivery of teacher education programmes in the Caribbean and high levels of international acceptance of our college graduates. The Degree programme would seek to retain this successful practice and avoid the fragmentation, inconsistencies and dysfunctional arrangements that could arise where the Degree programme to be offered under different academic and professional jurisdiction; Providing for the pre-service teacher modalities of training that facilitate their accessing training in a reasonable and meaningful way; Creating opportunities to engage in cooperative purchasing and resources sharing - units within a whole; Finally, allowing for colleges to offer university level programmes while maintaining the opportunities and training qualities of a small college structure and ethos.
The Bachelor in Education degree programme which began in January 2007 is delivered on a part-time basis over 4 semesters.
CITE Courses
The teaching approach will be both learner-centred and interactive. It is intended to focus on practice and application and to encourage reflective and analytic classroom practice leading to a strengthened knowledge base. Students will be helped to take a problem-solving approach to teaching and to use critical judgment on applying principles of teaching and learning. Vision of the Consortium Currently Teacher Training Institutions offer degree programmes awarded by the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ), the University of the West Indies (UWI) or in partnership with other universities abroad. The Consortium will provide a forth option - a strengthening and sharing. World wide there is a growing trend for Tertiary institutions to form consortia for economic and administrative reasons.
The Consortium is envisaged as
Enhancing and improving the capacity and capability of colleges to respond in a more timely and efficient manner to developmental challenges within teacher education. The current arrangements utilized for the award of degrees do not allow for timely responses to emerging challenges;
Articulating the Diploma and Degree programmes, providing relevance and easy progression through the profession. For e.g. it will ensure that there is little or no duplication of courses/course content between the Diploma and the Degree programmes thereby guaranteeing maximum and optimal utilization of time and resources;
Providing a common framework in which to continue offering teacher education programmes. This aspect of Teacher Education programme has resulted in Jamaica being the leader in the delivery of teacher education programmes in the Caribbean and high levels of international acceptance of our college graduates. The Degree programme would seek to retain this successful practice and avoid the fragmentation, inconsistencies and dysfunctional arrangements that could arise where the Degree programme to be offered under different academic and professional jurisdiction;
Providing for the pre-service teacher modalities of training that facilitate their accessing training in a reasonable and meaningful way;
Creating opportunities to engage in cooperative purchasing and resources sharing - units within a whole;
Finally, allowing for colleges to offer university level programmes while maintaining the opportunities and training qualities of a small college structure and ethos.
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