A cohort of about thirty newly recruited Supply Teachers of the primary is currently following a two-week induction programme serviced by the SeDEC in a bid to introduce the new recruits to some fundamental features of teaching that pertain particularly to the primary sector. The participants come from diverse backgrounds: some freshly from college or university and others with a past professional experience in an array of areas.

Launched on Monday 16 May, the training programme will end on Friday 27 May with the awarding of certificates of participation to inductees. The course content has been jointly elaborated and is being delivered by the members of the SeDEC Primary Desk (Head of Primary; Head School Management, Curriculum & Training; and Pedagogical Advisors) in collaboration with the Head of Training and ‘Pastorale Scolaire’ at the SeDEC.

Besides covering pedagogical and didactic aspects that beginner teachers should be familiar with, the induction course is also focusing on the specificity of the Catholic education mission. So as to ensure that the training is not solely theoretical in nature, opportunities have been identified for participants to engage in hands-on activities. A one-day school posting has also been scheduled in order to provide trainees with first-hand exposure to the contextual realities of RCA schools.

It is hoped that this short training for Supply Teachers will provide participants with some basic but useful tools as they embark on their career.