Today marks 62 years of formal Teacher Education in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. What a journey it has been! From the early beginnings when four (4) teacher trainees per year journeyed to Erdiston Barbados, to the drive for home grown teacher education through the pupil teacher programme and the establishment of the Teachers’ College in Arnos Vale. Today, as the Division of Teacher Education (DTE) within the SVGCC, the institution continues to play an integral role in shaping Vincentian society through education.
Today we celebrate the scope and depth of our institution—its ability to provide professional development to staffs across schools in SVG, its offerings of associate degrees in Early Childhood, primary, Secondary and TVET education as well as DipEd, B.Ed and M.Ed post graduate degrees.
Most importantly, however, we celebrate 62 years of enabling the education of the Vincentian populace from childhood to adulthood. Our teachers can be found in every village and town of SVG while others serve regionally and internationally. Their impact can be felt in every school, every home, every community.
That is what we celebrate—the ability of our institution to touch lives and prepare students for lives beyond the classroom. We invite you to celebrate with us by recognising both the joys and difficulties of the classroom teacher. Support them through collaboration with home and school and provide them with the respect that they should earn and therefore deserve. We also invite all teachers who have or are conducting research to attend and participate in our inaugural research conference SEE FLYER HERE. Let your voice be heard as you share your research with educators across the country and region.
As we celebrate 62 years of formal Teacher Education in SVG, the DTE recognises and honours those who came before – the pioneers and visionaries, the lecturers, principals and deans whose hard work and commitment give flight to all our efforts today. We pay special homage to Mr. Ian Williams who served as senior science lecturer from 2000 to 2026. Having taught so many teachers and provided so many hours of teacher professional development, the impact Mr. Williams has made, both at home and abroad, on Science Education will be felt for generations to come.
May teacher education grow from strength to strength in SVG and may its positive impact be felt in every classroom across our nation.
– Dr. S. Marise Butler
Dean, Division of Teacher Education
SVGCC
