Happy holidays are around the corner, remember to rack up those final CPTD points!

The end of the year is beckoning and teachers around the country are getting reading to bust out the champagne and pack their bags to head to sunny, sandy destinations. With that being said, there are a few tasks that still need to be put to the proverbial bed.

The CPTD cycle is coming to an end and as learners become anticipatory over reports, teachers’ deadline to hand in that all important CPTD file is also drawing nearer. As previously discussed in many of our informative blogs, teachers need to earn at least 150 personal development points in the duration of three years. Just as a quick refresher course, CPTD points can be earned by participating in three different types of activities:

Type 1 Activities:

• Reading educational material in a variety of publications and from various sources
• Engaging in electronic media educational activities (webinars, viewing / listening to an educational programme, telematics)
• Attending relevant educational meetings/breakfast sessions (excluding the ones hosted by employers/Provincial Education Departments. Please note that employer-led meetings are reported under type 3 in terms of employer-led activities)
• Attending educational conferences/seminars/workshop sessions (excluding the employer/Provincial Education Departments driven ones)
• Mentoring and coaching other teachers
• Kick-starting/leading a community project

Type 2 Activities:

• School Meetings (initiated at school level and led by different role players – excluding the Provincial Education Departments/districts and circuits)
• School workshops/development and support sessions
• School seminars/mini conferences
• School community action research
• School projects
• Achieving two school developmental needs (e.g. through SIP, APIP)

Type 3 Activities:

• Self-diagnostic assessment
• On-site support in schools
• Subject committees
• Induction programmes
• Short courses/skills development programmes- workshops and online
• CAPS training

At the end of a school year, teachers are often faced with that little voice in their head nagging and moaning at the fact that personal development points need to be earned and documented in a file. The fact of the matter remains that training and professional development are two factors that are imperative to an educational career.

Being competent and well-performing teacher is one of the most important resources in any educational institution.The teacher is considered the professional agent and the most directly responsible person in the process of learning and shaping our leaders of tomorrow. The call today is for teachers’ evaluation procedures as a way to provide assurance in the teaching/learning processes. We all know that parents always want some type of assurance and your colleagues need to have the confidence in you to know they are surrounded by peers that strive to be the best in what they do!

Great teachers help create great learners. So go that extra mile in the last stretch of the year and be the example you want to see in your learners!