Basseterre, St. Kitts- The Canadian Government funded Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean (IMPACT Justice) Project, recently trained 30 educators including Mr. Darryl Lloyd, Chief Education Officer, Principals, Deputy Principals, Education Officers and Guidance Counsellors in Restorative Practices at a 2-day workshop held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort from October 29th to 30th, 2018.
This workshop was the 3rd such workshop sponsored by IMPACT Justice in St. Kitts and Nevis, the first 2 being held in October 2015. It also marked the completion of formal training for two trainee Restorative Practices trainers, namely, Ms. Millicent Palmer-Dawson, and Ms. Nadine Lawrence both Lecturers at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, who conducted the workshop under the supervision of Ms. Pamela Buttery, an experienced trainer from the International Institute for Restorative Practices.
The workshop commenced with a brief opening ceremony on October 29th, at which Professor Velma Newton, Regional Project Director of the IMPACT Justice Project delivered remarks. Professor Newton in her remarks noted that IMPACT Justice has focused on Restorative Practices as a means of addressing instances of bullying and violence in schools and has trained over 1,000 educators across 9 CARICOM countries in these techniques. She also noted that after the training sessions she hoped that the newly qualified trainers will seek to have Restorative Practices incorporated into the curriculum of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College’s Teacher Education programme to expose new teachers to the concepts which they can then introduce into the school setting.
Professor Newton also shared her hope that all persons trained in Restorative Practices across the region would eventually form a Caribbean Network of Restorative Practitioners, and expressed her desire for parents to be included in future sessions, as they too could benefit from these techniques when dealing with their children
Also in attendance at the opening was Dr. Tricia Esdaille, Acting Senior Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Education, who made brief remarks on behalf of the Ministry. Dr. Esdaille urged the participants to use the workshop as an opportunity to reflect on their disciplinary practices, outreach initiatives to families and communities, and if necessary, to develop a new perspective. She also urged the educators to take back what they have learned to their schools and use it well.
Mr. William Hodge, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, also attended to give his best wishes and extended thanks on behalf of the Ministry of Education to IMPACT Justice for sponsoring the training session.
