Pathways to Success - A Profile of Dr. George Callender "A Lifetime of Excellence Reaps Rewards" Dr. George Callender holds a Ph. D. in Theology from The International Seminary in Miami, FL. Read his Biography here.

Introduction

For Dr. George Callender, the addition of the initials FCGI (Fellowship of the City and Guilds of London Institute) to his name has capped a lifetime of excellence in the field of technical and vocational education and training. In 2001 he joined less than 500 persons who, since its inception in 1892, have been bestowed with the FCGI award.

Start of Teaching Career

The sixth of seven children born and raised in the Crane, St. Philip, Dr. Callender began his teaching career right out of secondary school with a job at the Unique High School in 1963, teaching Mathematics, History and Science.  However, it was at the St. Catherine's Mixed School in 1964 that he found his calling teaching technical subjects.

"I was the first teacher of technical subjects. I was given the slow learners to teach so I thought it best to introduce the academic subjects through a practical approach. I didn't give essays like 'A Day by the Sea', my essays were about Woodwork - 'How would You prepare A Piece of Wood to Length, Width and Thickness?"

It was at St. Catherine's, where he served as class teacher from 1964 - 1967 for students ranging in age from 12 to 14 years old, that he first began to make his mark on what was then still a rather restricted education system for persons who were labelled slow learners.

While at St. Catherine's, he began his personal climb up the educational ladder. He underwent two years of training in Woodwork and Technical Drawing at the Barbados Technical Institute, which culminated in his becoming the first Barbadian to sit Woodwork at O'Level, through the University of London.

School Bias against Technical Subjects

In 1967 Dr. Callender was transferred from St. Catherine's to the Lodge School to teach mainly Technical Drawing and Woodwork. The programme was part of an outreach for students from St. John Mixed and Society Mixed Schools. 

"Technical teachers were not accorded the respect of the academic teachers. There were only two of us (technical teachers).we were never invited to participate in morning worship nor staff meetings. In fact, the then principal said that we were not members of his staff because we were placed there by the Ministry of Education."

 "The Ministry referred to the addition of technical facilities to the schools as Industrial Arts wings but some head teachers objected to their presence, calling them 'workshops'. This attitude was reflected in where Industrial Arts wings were placed on school property.

"Supply trucks at some (then) Grammar Schools could not reach the Industrial Arts wings because of their inaccessibility. Very often the technical teachers with the help of some students would have to offload the materials and transfer them to the Industrial Arts Laboratories," he said.

Higher Learning

It was therefore a blessing when Dr. Callender was transferred to the Princess Margaret Secondary School in 1970, to teach technical subjects up to the fifth form level, instead of only to the third form level as at the Lodge School.

"I had the option of introducing O'Levels and the students were hungry for the knowledge," he recalled.

He recommenced his own education that same year, enrolling in the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences in Canada to study Cabinet Making on a Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) scholarship. However, because he was not challenged enough, he switched to the Industrial Arts Teacher Education programme but managed to graduate with both qualifications.

From 1973 - 1975, he went to England to study for the Certificate in Education in Handicraft at the University of London, returning to Princess Margaret as Head of Department and helping to transform the teaching of Industrial Arts at the school.

Under his tenure the programme expanded to include Plumbing, Boat Building, Coffin Building, Small Engine Repairs, Furniture Repairs, Leather craft and Upholstery, Masonry and Auto mechanics.

Support for TVET

Dr. Callender spent ten years as Head of Department at Princess Margaret before taking up the post of Education Officer at the Ministry of Education. Seven years later he became Principal of the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic (SJPP), a position he held for 11 years before retiring in January 2003.

It was as Principal of the SJPP that Dr. Callender served on the board of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council from its inception in 1993.

"I supported the idea of the TVET Council because it  was a boost for technical education, shifting the perception from that of an afterthought to one of recognition of the importance of the area at a national level," he observed.

He fully endorses the new developments in the TVET field at the national level.

"I fully (support) the next move of establishing a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) because with the movement of skilled labour across the region, it helps to have a similar qualification which will have similar standards."

He stressed: "We are also in a position to offer qualifications in the non-traditional areas. For example, with the emphasis on sports, and cricket in particular, we can design a vocational qualification for persons preparing wickets, umpiring, etc. With these NVQs we can now develop standards of expertise which are measurable and from which an NVQ can be offered."

FCGI Citation

Perhaps this quote from the citation for the FCGI awards ceremony best sums up Dr. Callender's achievements:

"In ten years, his great leadership and motivational skills have transformed the polytechnic; he has successfully involved the private sector and non-governmental agencies in projects, developing programmes to enrich Technical and Vocational education and expanding provision to encompass academic studies, information technology and social sciences. He is a tireless champion in support of raising the status of vocational training."

These days Dr. Callender spends his time operating a small holistic farm in which everything is reused or recycled. He is also a preacher with the Pentecostal Assemblies West Indies (PAWI). 

The Fellowship of the City and Guilds of London Institute (FCGI) is the highest award that can be conferred by the Council of City & Guilds. It is awarded for outstanding personal and professional achievement.