Teacher Effectiveness in Trinidad and Tobago: The Perceptions of the Major Stakeholders

Abstract

Research has shown that it matters who the teacher is. This study aims to contribute to the discussion on teacher effectiveness in Trinidad and Tobago, based on the perceptions of the major stakeholders. Findings show that strong pedagogy, commitment, caring, patience and good communication skills are traits valued in effective teachers. Teachers’ behaviour, can impact students. Stakeholders want to see more ongoing professional development in schools; better teacher preparation; and the provision of adequate resources/facilities. The implications of this study are that the teacher preparation institutions need to prepare teachers differently and that teachers should be assessed for effectiveness