The Antigua and Barbuda Teachers Union (A&BUT) is working to change the mindset of veteran educators who view continuous professional development as optional rather than essential, according to Antigua Observer.
A&BUT 1st Vice President Robyn Joseph Nathaniel raised the concern during an interview with Observer Media, identifying the issue as one of the union's most persistent challenges.
Joseph Nathaniel noted that many educators already hold advanced qualifications and, in some cases, believe those credentials are sufficient. "Many of our teachers are teacher-trained; they have first degrees. We have teachers who have master's degrees, postgraduate diplomas, and sometimes people feel that that is the be-all and end-all of building capacity because I have letters behind my name," she said.
She argued, however, that a rapidly evolving educational landscape — including the growing presence of artificial intelligence in classrooms — means teachers can no longer rely on qualifications earned years earlier. "Our classrooms are evolving, and so in that same vein, teachers need to understand what I did five years ago, what I did two weeks ago, what I did a year ago — I constantly need to upscale," Joseph Nathaniel said.
The union is actively working to shift that culture among its membership. "We're trying to change the culture to let people know that constant professional development is important because they're a practitioner, and as a practitioner, you always want to be better at what you do," she said.
Joseph Nathaniel said the union's Professional Development Committee plays a central role in identifying gaps within classrooms and supporting teachers as they build new skills. The broader goal, she noted, is to embed continuous learning as a professional norm rather than an added burden.
