The need to ensure conditions that support the well-being of teachers was pointed out by the Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, Athina Michailidou, in her greeting on Thursday at the Pan-Cypriot Educational Conference of Primary School Principals.
He noted that the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth, recognizing the role and importance of the "well-being" of teachers, will continue to support in every way the efforts of the educational community to upgrade the professional well-being of its members.
The Minister of Education assured, at the same time, that she will continue, as she has always done, to support teachers in their work.
The Pan-Cypriot Educational Conference of Principals of Primary Education Schools on the theme "Teachers' well-being: From theory to practice", is co-organized by the Branch Committee of Principals of Primary Education Schools POED, the international research organization CARDET and the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute, and, as said by Ms. Michailidou, is a continuation of the corresponding last year's conference, keeping at the center of interest the discussion on a topic that does not simply concern the well-being and "well-being" of teachers, but is a parameter that affects the entire structure of education.
The Minister of Education stated that teachers have the difficult task of forming active, democratic and critically thinking citizens.
"However, very often, the demands of everyday life and the current needs that arise in their family, professional and social environment, significantly limit the opportunities given to them and minimize the time for their own well-being and development. This finding signals the need to ensure conditions that support the well-being of teachers", he added.
He also said that the "well-being" of teachers is a very broad concept, which in the research literature is defined based on various models that analyze it in various components.
"Working conditions, workload, working community, professional ability, opportunities for professional development, personal characteristics and school climate are usually mentioned as indicative parameters that shape it. Therefore, the thorough study and improvement of these parameters is considered particularly important for the achievement of teachers' well-being", he added.
Regardless of the way and methodology of its conceptualization, Ms. continued. Michailidou, the level of well-being of teachers has practical implications for the success of their mission.
"There is research data that demonstrates that teachers' well-being enhances their ability to significantly control sources of tension in their teaching work, implement effective classroom management strategies, and cultivate mutually supportive relationships with their students, in the direction of formation of a positive climate in the school community", he noted.
He pointed out, at the same time, that the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth, recognizing the role and importance of the "well-being" of teachers, will continue to support in every way the efforts of the educational community to upgrade the professional well-being of its members.
"This specific issue is not treated as a simple necessity, but as a fundamental condition for improving our educational system. For this reason, we will await the results of today's conference with interest. We hope that, by emphasizing the identification of the needs and priorities of the educational policy and strategy followed by Cyprus in matters concerning the well-being and professional learning of teachers of all levels, we will contribute, as a Ministry, to their professional support and learning," he added.
He also said that teachers are the "backbone" of the education system and the main implementer of their policies and it is no coincidence that the goal of their empowerment and professional support and development is a key priority of the Governance Program.
"Furthermore, as you very well know, from the first moment we took over and at the base of the Governance Program, our goal is to improve the level of the public school, promoting actions based mainly on prevention, early diagnosis and pedagogical science, protecting and empowering the teacher. In the course we follow towards the modern, human-centered and inclusive school, we have already progressed with the implementation of policies that improve the quality of the education provided and the working conditions of our teachers", he noted.
Referring to the increase in administrative time, and, by extension, the reduction in teaching time, Ms. Michailidou said that as a Ministry, it is in consultation with POED.
"We hope that soon we will come to a plan that will offer you the possibility to manage our schools in a more efficient way, implementing and implementing leadership and not just administration, but will also contribute to the effort to further improve our educational system. At a later time, and based on other improvements in our education system, we will look holistically at the issue of supporting the school management team. Like all the policies we adopt, this plan is based on pedagogical criteria and research results and will be implemented within the framework of the State's financial capabilities", he added.
The Minister of Education assured that she will continue, as she has always done, to support teachers in their work, to highlight the examples of good practice that we have in the daily life of schools, to propose pedagogical and research criteria for any political decisions and to work in collaboration with all agencies.
"We have already established a more modern cooperation with POED, far from old-fashioned unionism and I want to believe that this will continue for the good of education", he concluded.
Source: KYPE