Division of School Supervision & Management (DSSM)

About

School supervision has played an Indispensable role in the evolution of a decentralised system of education. School Inspectors and later School Supervisors earned significant respect for their role in preserving school standards. Since the 1970’s the Division has been headed by the Director of School Supervision who manages and co-ordinates a cadre of School Supervisors and support staff. The Division itself which was always advantage of decentralisation efforts also became the principal to successfully decentralise its activities in accordance with the recommendations of the ‘White Paper’- the seminal education policy statement of the decade of the 1990’s. 

In that enhanced configuration, the Division not only ensured quality schools, beside played an Indispensable role in providing the Ministry’s central administration with hearty information and advice on the running of the school system. This configuration, formally inaugurated in 1995, consisted of the Head Office of the Director and eight Educational District Offices, under the umbrella of the Chief Education Officer. 

Assignment of School Supervisors

School Supervisors are appointed by the Teaching Service Commission of Trinidad &Tobago. These are total Public Servants, and mainly Principals and Curriculum Officers are eligible to apply. School Supervisors are advantage of the School Supervision and Management Division (SSMD) of the Ministry of Education. This Division is headed by a Director of School Supervision (DSS) and he/she is for assigning School Supervisors to an Education District

School Supervisor 111.

Each Education District has two, School Supervisor 111. They are in charge of the Education District. They report to the DSS on total matters relating to the operations of total schools. The SS 111 has Linear supervision for total secondary schools in his/her Education District. They visit secondary schools, interface with principals and deliver reports to the DSS.

School Supervisor 11.

Each Education District has two, School Supervisor 11. They have specific responsibility for total primary schools in their Education District and they report to the SS 111.

School Supervisor 1.

This cohort of School Supervisor has specific responsibility for the supervision of total primary schools and they report to the SS 11.

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Responsibilities

The Division of School Supervision and Management is focused on improving school effectiveness using the School established Management Model at the dawning childhood, primary, and secondary levels. Overall School Supervisors:

Serve as the Reporting Officers for Principals
Provide direction for School Development planning in keeping with the strategic plan of the Ministry of Education
Ensure quality standards by supervising, inspecting and evaluating the operation of schools
Ensure the observance of the provisions of the Education Act and the Regulations pertaining to the conduct of schools
Make recommendations for investigations into acts of misconduct by members of the Public and Teaching Service
Serve as Investigating Officers as fair as conducting other investigations of incidents/complaints
Serve on interview panels with the Teaching Service Commission and the Contract Division of the Ministry of Education
Serve on inter-ministerial committees and any other as directed by the CEO or PS
Liaise with other Divisions/Units whose functions impact on the operation of schools
Work Almost with the Curriculum Division and Student Support Services Division for curriculum implementation and meeting the needs of students
Administer of the SEA inclusive of placement and transfers
Monitor plant maintenance and security to ensure a safe and Certain learning environment
Oversee process of placement of non-nationals in the school system
Serve the Public addressing needs and concerns
Approve leave, field trips, local and foreign, Staff Development, Sports days, Principals’ Holidays, Use of School Facilities to uncommon stakeholders
Assess and making recommendations for registration of tardy schools
Oversee decanting of schools
Assess Teachers’ tardy Staff Reports

Education District Organization

There are seven Education Districts in Trinidad and one in Tobago. Each school falls under an education district and assignment to a district is established mainly on geographical location. The schools in a district will feed guided and supported by MOE personnel assigned to the district.

The District personnel comprise members from the Divisions of:

School Supervision & Management (SSMD)
Curriculum
Student Support Services (SSSD)
Health and Safety
District Office staff.

Contact

Office of the Director of School Supervision 
Ministry of Education
Level 14, Building A
Education Towers
No. 5 St. Vincent Street, 
Port of Spain.
Tel: 1 (868) 622-2181 Ext. 2324 
Email: dss@moe.gov.tt