The Teacher-Cadet Program recently received an influx of 46 students who it is hoped would be among the 2017 entrants of the School of Education at The College of The Bahamas.
Tenth grade students from 14 high schools, an even split between public and private schools on New Providence, were inducted into the program during a recent ceremony in the ballroom at Government House hosted by Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling.
C.V. Bethel Senior High School had the largest cadre of students from the public sector, with seven students; Queen's College had the largest from the independent schools, with four students being inducted. Of the inductees, nine students are aspiring mathematics teachers, eight hope to pursue primary education, six of the aspiring teachers have an interest in early childhood education and five for both English and science. Other subjects of interest across the inductees include accounts, business studies family/consumer science, music, Spanish and special education.
The new inductees along with the program's cadet graduates were charged to always strive for excellence by Angela Pratt-Rolle, undersecretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.
As future teachers, she told them that they would have an "awesome responsibility" because they will play an important role in shaping the future of the country.
She likened the students to artists and told them that, as educators, they "[will] shape minds, paint hearts with a passion for learning, mold character, sketch dreams and help create the architectural blueprint for the development of our nation's youth".
Pratt-Rolle stressed to them the importance of never settling for mediocrity and said that, in choosing excellence, they must also choose to be life-long learners.
"Three of the most powerful things [you] could possibly possess are wisdom, knowledge and understanding."
The students were told that when they are able to use those elements as tools in their daily lives, they would become a seamless inclusion in their lessons and their lives as educators.
She reminded them that education as a career is a noble profession - by far the most valuable and important career there is.
"While you may not be paid lavishly, the return on your investment will be manifested in the lives you empower," said Pratt-Rolle.
The education ministry employee told the teacher cadets that their gratification would be in seeing their pupils succeed and that they would help to create the country's future leaders.
"Teachers give what cannot be taken away -- a wealth of knowledge and information that, once you acquire, will remain yours for a lifetime."
While a lot of the emphasis was placed on the new inductees, this year's 23 graduates who matriculated at The College of The Bahamas were also awarded for their successful completion of the three-year Teacher-Cadet Program.
The Future Teachers of The Bahamas, also referred to as the "Teacher-Cadet Program", was established in 1995 to meet the increasing shortage of skilled teachers in critical areas. It is an innovative approach to attract students to the teaching profession and encourage them to become interested in teaching. The program aims to provide insight into the nature of teaching, critical issues in education and the importance of teaching so that eventually the cadets will make teaching their career of choice.
The criteria for eligibility into the program include five or more Bahamas Junior Certificate (BJC) passes with grade C or better, going through an interview process, having a keen interest in the teaching profession in specific teaching disciplines, having the ability to succeed in the education program at The College of The Bahamas and applicants must be Bahamian citizens.

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