Keep up-to-date with new research – NCERD Director encourages SEN officers

The Special Education Needs (SEN) Unit of the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) on Thursday hosted its annual conference under the theme “Come out of your comfort zone and enter your learning zone.”

Director of NCERD, Quenita Walrond-Lewis, in her address, encouraged the Special Education Needs (SEN) officers to never stop learning. According to the Director, it is important for the SEN officers to keep up-to-date with all that is happening within their field, as this enhances their ability to fulfil their duties.
“What we understood about the world ten years ago or fifty years ago is definitely different from what we understand about the world today…,” she explained. “Always remain at the forefront of your practice; always remain current in whatever is new in research and in educational technology that serves the SEN space,” she advised.
Further, she encouraged the team to “never stay static, never feel you have come as far as you can in your professional journey…never stop learning.”
The Director has expressed gratitude to the SEN officers for their hard work and dedication, noting that their department plays a significant role in helping NCERD to fulfil its mandate.
“The SEN Unit is an integral part of what we do here at NCERD, because we are always striving to improve the quality of education in the entire system… Here, at NCERD, one of our principal remits is to keep empowering educators with what is new – the best innovative practice – and how to adopt that in a culturally relevant and sensitive way, so that we can create a better impact on student outcome, on teacher experience, and even the education of the public at large,” she explained.
Meanwhile, National SEN Officer Savvie Hopkinson has called on the officers to come out of their comfort zones and enter the learning zone.
“We have, over the years, become comfortable and familiar with the vocabulary of our profession, and we have studied and retained lots of information. We have seen recurring situations and met recurring problems, and have become comfortable in responding to them; they no longer challenge us,” she declared.
She added, “The place you have come to is like entering a roundabout, where you yield to traffic before entering. But there is no stop sign, and there is no place to park; you must enter and proceed further in the same direction, or go in other directions. You must move forward, and that means entering the learning zone.”
The conference has served as a platform for SEN officers to highlight and discuss their achievements and challenges for the year. (G12)