School leadership
2.1. Leadership standards and roles
2.2. Selection and working conditions
2.3. Leadership preparation and training
3. Teachers, parents and students
3.1. School management committees and boards
4.1. Autonomy of school leaders
4.2. Assessment and accountability of school leaders
4.3. Teacher assessment by school leaders
1. Terminology
The 2014 Education Ordinance defines “Principal” as a “headmaster”, “headteacher” or any other person who is the “most senior person of the educational institution” (art.2).
The 2018-2022 Education Policy states that the “principal” in each school “provides the leadership in running the school”.
2. School principals
2.1. Leadership standards and roles
Competency standards and leadership frameworks and guidelines
The 2014 Education Ordinance is the main legal text outlining the duties and responsibilities of school principals.
The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OES) and Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), of which Turks and Caicos Islands is a member, published the 2021 Let's REAP! — Roadmap for Principals Guide No. 3 to support principals from the OES and CARICOM to address the unique needs of individual schools.
The 2020 CARICOM Standards for the Teaching Profession Teachers, Educational Leaders and Teacher Educators also outline the multifaceted responsibilities of school leaders, emphasizing their role in national development. Leaders are expected to shape teaching and learning, develop staff and students, and implement strategies to achieve educational goals while considering the impact on individuals and society. The standards cover seven key areas including leading student and professional learning, personal and organizational change, sustainability, accountability, and equity, reflecting the complexity of school leadership and the region's vision for development.
The 2018-2022 Education Policy indicates that Turks and Caicos Islands adheres to the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ), based on Competency-Based Education Training and Assessment (CBETA) with objectives to train teachers and principals and ensure compliance of their level to appropriate standards. The 2015 Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) Guidelines for School Administrators and Principals support school leaders in implementing the CVQ.
Roles
Setting expectations/objectives: The 2014 Education Ordinance lists teaching as one of the main duties and responsibilities of school principals (art.16e) and to ensure the suitable application of the syllabus in conformity with the needs of the pupils of the school, and the administration of the school’s programme.
Furthermore, the 2018-2022 Education Policy states that the principal of each school provides leadership in running the schools.
According to the 2023 Job Listing for a Secondary School Principal on the official government website, the principal is expected to develop the vision and mission of the school in alignment with Ministry policies, liaise with Heads of Department for curriculum implementation, and submit timely reports to the Department of Education through the school’s supervisor.
Developing teaching and learning: The 2014 Education Ordinance refers to the role of Education officers in “the supervision and inspection of the programme of education required by the curriculum”, but no information on school principals in this aspect has been found.
Promoting collaboration: The 2014 Education Ordinance mentions that school principals are to ensure the safety of students.
The 2023 Job Listing for a Secondary School Principal states that the principal is to encourage and endeavor to maintain parental and community engagement in school events, refer students to professional counseling when needed, coordinate regular Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) gatherings, communicate disciplinary issues regarding their children to parents, institute a code of conduct for students and faculty, and support the enforcement of robust protocols for school safety, supervision, and upkeep, ensuring compliance with health and safety standards.
It also emphasizes that a principal is responsible for fostering a collaborative learning culture within the school, actively engaging with other secondary and primary schools and other agencies to construct effective learning communities and aiding in the annual registration of pupils while assigning them to classes according to age and cognitive ability.
Supporting staff development: The 2023 Job Listing for a Secondary School Principal mentions that the responsibilities include developing and leading “all staff to achieve the highest professional standards”.
The 2014 Education Ordinance states that it is the role of the Director of Education to conduct and supervise the training of teachers (art.7) and the allocation and supervision of the duties and responsibilities of members of their staff (art. 16).
Acting in accordance with the ethical principles of the profession: The 2014 Education Ordinance states lists teaching as one of the main duties and responsibilities of school principals (art.16e).
2.2. Selection and working conditions
Degree requirements and prior teaching experience
The 2023 Job Listing for a Secondary School Principal by the Government of the Turks & Caicos Islands states that candidates must hold a Master’s degree in education administration/leadership or a relevant management qualification, alongside a teacher’s certificate or diploma, and possess a minimum of eight (8) years of experience in the education field, with at least five (5) years at an educational administration/leadership level.
Appointment decision
The offer for the position of principal is typically published on the Official Government Vacancies webpage and sent to the official email address ([email protected]) of the Office of the Human Resource Directorate of the Education Department, which is responsible for processing the selection.
Employment equity measures
No information was found concerning equity measures.
Working conditions
The 2023 Job Listing for a Secondary School Principal by the Government of the Turks & Caicos Islands states that the annual salary is $50,342.38 which is equivalent to $4195 per month in addition to a “Housing Allowance, End-of contract gratuity of 10%, return passages for a family of up to two children under the age of 18 years, freight cost and duty exemption on personal effects imported within six months of the appointment”.
The Job Listing states that “successful applicants will work in accordance with the Public Service Ordinance”.
2.3. Leadership preparation and training
Pre-service training
Since school principals need to have a teacher’s diploma, the 2014 Education Ordinance refers to a teacher’s college where they can get trained (art.30).
Induction and in-service training
The 2018-2022 Education Policy has objectives to train teachers and principals according to the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) implementation. It also includes indicators to measure their objectives by the percentage of principal and school administrative staff with leadership training.
The 2023 Job Listing for a Secondary School Principal states that the school principal is to “manage own personal professional development”.
3. Teachers, parents and students
3.1. School management committees and boards
No information has been found.
3.2. Middle leaders
The 2014 Education Ordinance refers to a Senior Teacher as a Vice Principal or Head of Department without highlighting their roles and duties.
It also refers to Teachers Associations or Parent-Teachers Associations in the same context (art.53).
3.3. Parents
The 2014 Education Ordinance mentions that parent-teacher associations can be established in any public educational institution, with the Minister having the authority to support and encourage their formation. Their role is to promote the school's interests by fostering close cooperation between parents, community members, students, and teachers. They are empowered to create rules for their operation and may collaborate with other similar associations to elect committees that work towards advancing their collective interests and enhancing education overall (art.53).
3.4. Students
The Department of Youth Affairs of the Ministry of Education is responsible for the facilitation and integration of youth programmes and issues across the country. Its development plan, Turks and Caicos Islands National Youth Policy 2020-2025, includes a number of measures aimed at young people, some of which are explicitly school-related. These include, for example, implementing school and community-based programmes to enhance youth awareness of the principles and practices of democratic governance.
4. Governance
4.1. Autonomy of school leaders
The 2014 Education Ordinance mentions that the school principal is responsible in preparing a yearly financial report and forwarding it “through the Education Officer to the Director of Education” (art.15).
The 2023 Job Listing for a Secondary School Principal states that the school principal is to prepare the school budget, manage the funds, and ensure compliance, as well as coordinate with department heads to oversee staff management according to professional and Public Service standards, assist in teacher recruitment, recommending teacher continuance, and delegating duties to teaching staff.
4.2. Assessment and accountability of school leaders
The 2014 Education Ordinance states that educational institutions must undergo inspection at least once by the Director of Education and twice by an Education Officer each term in order “to advise the Principal of that educational institution on matters relating to its welfare and development” (art.36).
The 2018-2022 Education Policy aimed to develop a principal appraisal programme.
4.3. Teacher assessment by school leaders
The 2014 Education Ordinance highlights the role of educational inspections conducted by the Director of Education and Education Officer aim to assist and guide “teachers employed therein as may promote the good conduct and efficiency of the educational institution” (art.36).
It is the Director of Education who is responsible for “assessing the performance reports of teachers” (art.7).
The 2018-2022 Education Policy aimed to develop a teacher appraisal programme.
According to the 2020 Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) Handbook, principals play a crucial role in the CVQ Training and Assessment Audit process, as they are responsible for overseeing their institutions' compliance and participation. They collaborate with Quality Assurance Auditors appointed by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) to ensure adherence to standards. They also act as key stakeholders in the CVQ 2020 Audit, working alongside representatives from Ministries of Education, National Training Authorities/TVET Councils, instructional staff, students, internal and external verifiers, industry personnel, as well as relevant bodies like CANTA, CARICOM, and CXC®, to ensure the successful execution of the audit and the continuous improvement of vocational training and assessment processes.
