Sister
Una Is Building a College
Sister
Una O'Connor, a Passionist sister, is building a college. It's a dream
she has had since she came to Jamaica, West Indies, in 1992 to offer
her services as an educator. Soon, Sister Una recognized that one way
to help Jamaica's booming population of children was to train their
teachers, since a well-educated child has a good chance in the world
-- and a country with well-educated children can count on a better future,
too.
 "But
it has to begin with teachers," Sister Una says. "I think especially
of the teachers in our basic schools who teach children from three to
six years old, a critical time for children's development. In some areas
of Jamaica the children are poor and have a long walk to school. They
often don't have enough to eat. But poor children shouldn't mean poor
schools.
"I believe
teachers can help them, although their teachers are not well-paid and
sometimes don't have all the training they need. I admire the dedication
and experience of these teachers, but they need opportunities to grow
professionally."
In 1993,
Sister Una, with a dedicated staff of professional teachers, began an
evening college program for 18 basic-school teachers at St. Paul of
the Cross School in Mandeville, Jamaica.
"We created
an individualized program, tailored to the teacher, because none of
them could afford full-time study away from their jobs," Sister Una
explained. "It was to take six years to complete. In 1999, five of the
original group were awarded a diploma. The program currently has over
50 students in the teacher training program, while others are studying
for personal enrichment in the areas of guidance and counseling, computer
technology, language skills, art and music."
Sister
Una is now seeking accreditation for the program from the University
Council of Jamaica, as part of a larger educational outreach sponsored
by the Catholic College of Mandeville, and she is moving the program
to buildings on a tract of land provided by the Mandeville Catholic
Diocese.
providence
A
Missionary Looks at Jamaica •
One
of a Jamaican Kind: Fr Bertram Chin, C.P.
A
Retreat House Keeping Dreams Alive
• Sister Una Is Building a College
Editor's Note •
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