Secondary school principals across Trinidad and Tobago are entering the 2026–2027 academic year with strengthened leadership, planning and school-management skills following eleven days of intensive professional training aimed at improving how schools are led and how national education priorities are translated into results for students.
Through the 2026 School Supervision and Management Division’s (SSMD) Practitioner Enhancement Series (SPES), the programme focused on building the practical leadership competencies required to effectively implement the Strategic Schools Operation Framework of Trinidad & Tobago.
The initiative responds to the increasingly complex role of the modern school principal, whose responsibilities now extend well beyond administration.
Speaking at the programme’s Certification Ceremony today, Dr. the Honourable Michael R. Dowlath, Minister of Education, underscored the critical role of principals in converting national education policy into meaningful results for students.
Minister Dowlath encouraged principals to establish clear strategic directions for their schools, grounded not only in national priorities but also in the particular strengths, circumstances and needs of the students and communities they serve.
The Practitioner Enhancement Series advances Pillar Three (3) of the Ministry of Education’s Strategic Plan 2025–2030, which focuses on strengthening the education system.
The 2026 SPES for Secondary School Principals concluded with a Certification Ceremony at ASJA Girls’ College, Charlieville, where participants were recognised for completing the programme.