Teacher Performance Evaluation in Jamaica: Perceptions and Reactions

• In Event: Educational Evaluation and Reform in Africa and in the Caribbean

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to engage teachers in Jamaican public school in a dialogue about their present teacher performance evaluation system. The focus is to determine the perceptions, reactions and gain much needed feedback from the teachers in our school system towards the programme as policy and practice. The differentiation between formative and summative evaluation will make room for a conversation on purpose and usefulness. It will seek to gain an understanding of the purpose of teacher performance evaluation, and the benefits to teacher professional growth and development and examine the issues in teacher evaluation that either support or obstruct teachers’ work. Finally it will examine the impact on student achievement, teacher growth and school-wide effectiveness.

Author

• Andrew Bruce Campbell, University of Toronto