Teaching

[Aurea]

Hey Psycho Oat hope u are doin' well at ur new school and that u rejoin the forum. Well I'm still at home waiting for and harrasing the ministry to place me in a school! I don't understand what's taking so long?! Could someone explain this to me. I thought they needed teachers in the field I applied to. Sigh... ah getting kinda fed up.

Aurea

[lifehater]

Hey
What subject are you assessed to teach? I know that i you apply in the fields of Math and English you should definitely be getting calls! Maybe Physics as well.

[Aurea]

I applied as a Home Economics teacher - Food and Nutrition. I only applied in march, was interviewed in july, and passed the interview. I assumed since they didn't take forever to interview me, that there was a need for teachers in my field. All they have to do now is just place me!!

Aurea

[Sumana]

where psyco in real

[Scorpio]

psych was taking some blows on de old forum comin to de end, ah really hope he come back.

[sharun]

I applied as a Home Economics teacher - Food and Nutrition. I only applied in march, was interviewed in july, and passed the interview. I assumed since they didn't take forever to interview me, that there was a need for teachers in my field. All they have to do now is just place me!!

Aurea

I didn't train in TT, what do teachers have to do to get a license?

[Aurea]

U have to apply through the ministry of education here - essentially u work for them. I don't believe we have a "license" to teach. U have to go through an interview, and then there supposed to place u in a school. They haven't done that with me yet.
Aurea

[scrunter]

Hold some strain de go place yuh one ah dese dayz.Yuh have to constantly bug dem.Who knows your letter of appointment must be sitting on somebody (clerk) desk waiting to be typed.

[Solachica]

Have you applied for anything else? Why not apply to OJT?
I met a guy who graduated this year from uwi and he's an ojt in a high school.
Recently whtever the ministry is saying abt ojt's not teaching is a lie becos this feller is teaching the environ sci cape class.
He said since the sch does not have an environ sci teacher he wud be recommened for the post since he's already teaching.

[Aurea]

Well it's been awhile since I wrote here. Well called the ministry some time last year only for them to tell me that they have just started placing ppl who passed the interview in 2005!! So what does that mean, that I have tto wait 2 year b4 they place me?! That is so much nonsense! I would apply apply to ojt but they only allow u to complete it once and I already did it. But I haven't depended on the ministry for a job - thank God! Why bother to be a teacher in this country?! I mean if this is the absolute nonsense that goes on, why bother?

Aurea

[Silky]

Hmmm, that's interesting. I was interviewed in September 2005 and I've been teaching for 2 years now. I don't think that person you talked to was right. Cuz new teachers who came to my school to teach were interviewed in 2006.

I think if you want to speed up your chances of getting placed in a school, go the schools themselves and inquire about vacancies. I know Naps girls needs a Chemistry teacher. I was gonna apply but why leave my comfortable post in my alma mater teaching Maths, to go teach a subject with SBAs? No way!

Anyhow, I heard the OJT programme only pays $2500 I think, which sucks. And with this whole thing about them actually teaching in a classroom instead of assisting is too troublesome.

Don't give up on teaching. I initially never wanted to become a teacher cuz I used to hear the horror stories from my sis about the ministry's inefficiencies. I worked for 3 years in industry b4 switching to teaching and haven't regretted it. It just so happened my A level math teacher called me to fill a vacancy. Initially I went through a lot of problems, with respect to salary, but by the grace of God, everything is gr8 now. All the hassle has paid off.

[Aurea]

Ojt actually pays $4000 once u have a degree. I have applied to alot of the board school's and they have no vacanicies. The thing is per school they only need one Food and Nutrition teacher to teach forms 1-5. It's not like the other subject areas where u can have more teachers in a particular subject. I know for a fact that they are now placing ppl from 2005 for Home Economics. I was also told that for certain areas there is a greater demand for teachers, so in these subjects/areas u'll get in faster - math being one of them.

Aurea

[Mkris7]

I had been offered a Social Worker/Counselor post in the past which, I past on because I had to come back to the states to take my ill grandmother...in the process, I stumbled into my dream job as a Child Abuse Investigator for the State. But I do want to teach primary school when I retire (in 8-9 years) from this position and move back to TT full-time. Of course not for the money, but for the love and passion that I have for the little kids. And I plan to get on at a rural school in the deep south. I have a Bachelors and Masters in Social Work.

My question is should get a degree in primary education while I am in the states or just wait to go through the MOE/Teachers Training Etc??

Thanks in advance

[Felicidad]

Hi Aurea,
Taught at a public school for 8 years.. Don't want to crush ya, but here's a head's up: Home Ec teachers NEVER LEAVE. (Unless it's time to retire). There's a theory that the Home Ec department of each school suffers the LOWest turnover, and for the 8 years at my school, there's this one teacher who for ALL 8 years promised/threatened/swore that 'this' was her 'last year'. See? and I left before her! She even decided at the age of 58 or 59 to start a deGREE! :roll: I know another brilliant, young H/Ec teacher who can only ever get temporary posts when the permanent ones go on sick or maternity leave. So.. simply put, there's a longish waiting list. ;)

[Aurea]

"Hi Aurea,
Taught at a public school for 8 years.. Don't want to crush ya, but here's a head's up: Home Ec teachers NEVER LEAVE. (Unless it's time to retire). There's a theory that the Home Ec department of each school suffers the LOWest turnover, and for the 8 years at my school, there's this one teacher who for ALL 8 years promised/threatened/swore that 'this' was her 'last year'. See? and I left before her! She even decided at the age of 58 or 59 to start a deGREE! I know another brilliant, young H/Ec teacher who can only ever get temporary posts when the permanent ones go on sick or maternity leave. So.. simply put, there's a longish waiting list."

Ok, now that is truly a depressing thought! I do realize that home ec teachers tend to while away their time and take their merry ole time to leave! I worked with one at the school I was at, and my old teachers are still there to. Did I meantion that their all utterly old fashioned?! Out of date to! Sigh..... at least I haven't waited around for them to retire to get a teaching position. I've sorta given up on teaching for the mean time. There other things I can do.

Aurea

[Chicabonita]

Aurea, sorry to hear that is taking so long for them to call you, hopefully you will hear something before September.

[Aurea]

Yeah, I hope they do eventually call me. Honestly I prefer a teaching position cause it's more secure and all the other perks. :) But I'm surviving. Thank's Chica.

Aurea

[Aurea]

Well I called the ministry on friday afternoon to get an "update" on why it's taking so long. I actually spoke with the supervisor of secondary HR. He said I'm at "the bottom" of the list, but atleast they seem to have finally gotten to my year - 2007. he said teachers form february haven't been placed and I'm july. It seems I'm gettin there slowly! Anybody ever met Mr. Chokoolingo(I eh know if that's the right spelling eh), he's the HR for secondary.

Aurea

[guyguy]

Well I called the ministry on friday afternoon to get an "update" on why it's taking so long. I actually spoke with the supervisor of secondary HR. He said I'm at "the bottom" of the list, but atleast they seem to have finally gotten to my year - 2007. he said teachers form february haven't been placed and I'm july. It seems I'm gettin there slowly! Anybody ever met Mr. Chokoolingo(I eh know if that's the right spelling eh), he's the HR for secondary.

Aurea
Aurea,
Maybe ah mixin you op with sombody else, but didn't you go to UCSD?

[Aurea]

Guyguy, yup u are mixing me up with someone else I went to good ole U.W.I.

Aurea

[Babygirl]

Probably some kind of bureaucratic red tape...I hope you get through soon. :) Everything happens when the time is right...although it might seem frustrating to wait. Everything works out for the best. :)

[snowbird]

I noticed that your first post on this subject was back in October 2007, now here we are in May of 2008 and you are still not placed.
What does one do while they are waiting for placement? Do you find another job? Or is it that you are already employed, just wanting to switch? Just curious.

[syxxi-fux]

Do you guys know if a person can get a job with English, Social Studies, Typing and Office Procedures anywhere in Trinidad? My friend graduated in 2000. She only has work experience in the US as a Secretary for a church. She asked me but I had no idea so I thought I would ask you guys.

[Aurea]

I noticed that your first post on this subject was back in October 2007, now here we are in May of 2008 and you are still not placed.
What does one do while they are waiting for placement? Do you find another job? Or is it that you are already employed, just wanting to switch? Just curious.


Well I didn't want to switch jobs, just wanted to teach. I had to find another job, can't be at home doing absolutely nothing(I did read a whole lot while I was at home doh lol). If I am eventually placed in a school, I'll take it and quit the other job. I love teaching hence the reason I have stuck with this nonsense with ministry.

Aurea

[snowbird]

I noticed that your first post on this subject was back in October 2007, now here we are in May of 2008 and you are still not placed.
What does one do while they are waiting for placement? Do you find another job? Or is it that you are already employed, just wanting to switch? Just curious.


Well I didn't want to switch jobs, just wanted to teach. I had to find another job, can't be at home doing absolutely nothing(I did read a whole lot while I was at home doh lol). If I am eventually placed in a school, I'll take it and quit the other job. I love teaching hence the reason I have stuck with this nonsense with ministry.

Aurea

The reason why I asked is that my daughter is in the same position over here, she does have another full time job but wants to make the switch to teaching (which probably won't happen until the beginning of the next school year in September); to keep her skills fresh, she has cut back on her full time hours, instead every day she volunteers at her local high school, she does three hours of teaching/mentoring before she goes off to work; she's really enjoying it, and for her, it's a foot in the door'. :)

[Kristi]

About 2 years ago I applied to teach at Secondary level with both a Bachelor Degree & Associate Degree in my field. Some clerk in the ministry mail me back all my certificates with an attached letter stating that I am not qualified to teach.

They crazy inside there. Even after going over her head and trying to rectify the situation, I still haven't been called for an interview to this date. I doh want dey wuk anymore, but I would advise anyone applying to the ministry to find another calling while you wait.

[Aurea]

I noticed that your first post on this subject was back in October 2007, now here we are in May of 2008 and you are still not placed.
What does one do while they are waiting for placement? Do you find another job? Or is it that you are already employed, just wanting to switch? Just curious.


Well I didn't want to switch jobs, just wanted to teach. I had to find another job, can't be at home doing absolutely nothing(I did read a whole lot while I was at home doh lol). If I am eventually placed in a school, I'll take it and quit the other job. I love teaching hence the reason I have stuck with this nonsense with ministry.

Aurea

The reason why I asked is that my daughter is in the same position over here, she does have another full time job but wants to make the switch to teaching (which probably won't happen until the beginning of the next school year in September); to keep her skills fresh, she has cut back on her full time hours, instead every day she volunteers at her local high school, she does three hours of teaching/mentoring before she goes off to work; she's really enjoying it, and for her, it's a foot in the door'. :)


Well I think it's great what ur daughter is doing. Think I'll start doing something like that myself. It'll make life easier for me when I actually start teching, I hope!

Aurea