The St. Maarten United Multipurpose Educational Foundation (S.U.M.E.F.) has just concluded the final series of training for the teachers employed at the private non goverment subsidize schools under its umbrella. These trainings started in 2009 and was funded by the Dutch "Cees Pot" Foundation. Two training sessions were conducted in 2009 and two in 2010 and now the final was held on Thursday, February 17th and Friday, February 18th 2011 at the Starlight Educational Centre, Watermelon Road, St, Peters.
Before the training started the instructor of the final module, Miss Lian Staal visited the Minister of Education, Ms.Rhoda Arrindell on Wednesday, February 16th, 2011 accompanied by Miss Marge Solloman and Mrs.Carmen Hodge of the SUMEF. The Minister of Education had a good discussion with her guests. To mark the completion of the training, a Ceremony will be held, where all the particpants with an attendance of 3 session or more, will receive a certificate from this instructor. An invitation was also extended to the Minister, but although the Minister had indicated that she had previous engagenents, she will be represented by Morenika Arrindell of her Ministry. This Ceremony was held at the Belvedere Community Centre Time: 7:00 -8:30 p.m. on Saturday, February, 19th, 2011.
With this training the teachers also got the training in different skills to enable them to teach children in multi-level grouping and also different approaches and learning styles with hands-on material pertaining to the subject, The upgrading of the teachers took place wirh other instructors from the APS (Academic Pedogogical Centre) in Holland. The Board of the SUMEF would like to thank Mr. Guus Perry, Miss Liaan Staal and Miss Dimph Rubbens for their willingness and their contribution toward the development and training of the teachers and the Cees Pot Foundation for this grant.