TTUTA - Trinidad & Tobago Unified Teachers' Association
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Prof. Development     |      You Are Viewing: Restructuring & Decentralization

TTUTA’s POSITION ON RESTRUCTURING & DECENTRALIZATION (RD)

In 2000, at a consultation on the MOE’s plans to restructure the education system, TTUTA had recommended that first consideration ought to be given to enhancing the eight (8) Education Districts. Given that there already exist these structures, it seems logical that this option is the most viable since it takes into account the cost implications, a smooth transition and effective service and delivery.

In 2003, with the issues once again up for national debate, the MOE has defined five (5) possible options. The Association maintains its recommendation for the strengthening and enhancement of the present structures. However, to ensure that no new problems are created and to prevent a bottleneck of issues to be resolved at the District Offices, the Association strongly urges that:

  •      These District offices be adequately funded/resourced at all times;

  •      In the decentralized units, care must be taken to ensure that the disparate units do not all function as separate entities. There must be some level of cohesiveness and basic minimum standards amongst all the Districts;

  •      Delinking and unification ought to go hand in hand with the process with the relevant amendments to the Teaching Service Commission regulations;

  •      The necessary checks and balances must be instituted to ensure that the offices are allowed to function effectively and smoothly, with an appropriate degree of autonomy;

  •      The criteria for determining the establishment of these District offices ought to be developed and worked on in a timely fashion;

  •      Movement of teachers ought not to be restricted within the Districts. Provision must be made which will allow teachers to move not only to schools within the District - but also from one District to another.

  •      The shift in giving schools more autonomy ought not to result in overburdening administrators with so many administrative duties such that it distracts from the management of the individual schools;

  •      In the devolution of power and authority to school administrators, their agreed upon job descriptions must be borne in mind and not infringed.

    FUNCTIONS OF THE VARIOUS ITEMS OF THE PROPOSED SYSTEM

    i) School Supervision:

  •      This is best suited at the district level but specific functions at MOE’s Head Office (HO)

    ii) Curriculum:

  •      Design and development at the national level yet allowing schools to adapt the curriculum to satisfy relevance and needs of the community.

  •      Implementation – at the District and school level

  •      Evaluation – at all levels

    iii) Technical and Vocational Education:

  •      Design and implementation – National/District Level

  •      Implementation – at the National, District and school levels

  •      Evaluation – National, District and school

    iv) Human Resources:

  •      Planning – National and District Level

  •      Recruiting & Staffing – National Level

  •      Registration – District Level

  •      Training – National & District Levels

  •      Pension & Leave – National and District Level Specific issues of pension at the District Level Specific issues of leave at the National, District and school levels.

    v) Educational Planning

  •      Plan Proposals and Programming – National and District Levels

  •      Project Preparation Implementation and Evaluation – National and District Levels

  •      Policy Analysis, Statistics – National Level

  •      Research – Outsourced

    vi) Educational Research and Evaluation:

  •      Testing and Assessment – National and District Levels (can also be outsourced)

  •      Research – National Level (can also be outsourced)

  •      Evaluation – National Level or also outsourced

    vii) Educational Services:

  •      Examination – National or outsourced

  •      School Broadcasting – National or outsourced

  •      Education Television – National or outsourced

  •      Publications – National or outsourced

  •      Materials Development – National or outsourced

  •      Adult Education – National or outsourced

  •      Continuing Education – National or outsourced

  •      School Libraries – National, District or outsourced

    viii) National Examination Council:

  •      At the National Level

    ix) Finance and Accounts:

  •      Paysheets – National and District

  •      Check staff – National and District

  •      Accounts – National and District

  •      Tenders and Contracts – National Level

    x) General Administration:

  •      Registry – National and District

  •      Stores – National and District

  •      Machine Room Operations – National and District

  •      Messenger and Maid Service – National and District

  •      Janitorial and Handyman Services – National and District

  •      Administrative Services – National and District

  •      Security – National

    xi) Communication:

  •      National and District Level

    xii) IT:

  •      National, District and School Levels

    xiii) Legal Services:

  •      National and District

    xiv) Internal Audit:

  •      National and District

    xv) Educational Facilities Management Division:

  •      National, District or outsourced

    xvi) Office of the CEO – National

    UNESCO – National
    SEMPCU – National
    EPCU – National
    RCLRC – National

    July 2003

    APPENDIX II SCHOOL:

  •      Curriculum Implementation
  •      Curriculum Evaluation
  •      Leave

    DISTRICT:

  •      Entities of School Supervision
  •      Curriculum Implementation
  •      Curriculum Evaluation
  •      Entities of Human Resources
  •      Educational Planning, Proposals and Programming
  •      Project preparation, Implementation & Evaluation
  •      Testing & Assessment
  •      School Libraries
  •      Finance & Accounts
  •      General Administration
  •      IT
  •      Legal Services
  •      Internal Audit
  •      Educational Facilities Management Division (EFMD)

    HEAD OFFICE:

  •      Entities of School Supervision
  •      Curriculum Design & Implementation
  •      Curriculum Evaluation
  •      All entities of HR
  •      Educational plans, proposals & programming
  •      Project preparation, Implementation & Evaluation
  •      Education Policy Analysis, Statistics & Research
  •      All entities of Educational Research & Evaluation
  •      All entities of Educational Services
  •      All entities of Finance & Accounts
  •      All entities of General Administration
  •      Communications
  •      IT
  •      Legal Services
  •      Internal Audit
  •      EFMD
  •      Office of he CEO; UNESCO; SEMPCU; EPCU; RCLRC

    Recommendations of the Central Education Committee
    Adapted by the General Council in June 2003.

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