The Minister of Education

 The Ministry of Education is headed by the Minister of Education who is constitutionally responsible for its operations.

The Permanent Secretary

 The Permanent Secretary reports to the Minister of Education and is responsible for all matters concerning the Ministry of Education, which is divided into the Technical, Administration and Financial Divisions, Sections and Units as follows:

The Chief Education Officer (C.E.O.)

 The CEO administers and coordinates the professional activities of the ministry and serves as the Chief Advisor to the Government on education policies, practices and procedures. The CEO is generally involved in the development and execution of the educational programmes of the Ministry and usually exercises control over all educational development.

The technical aspects of educational services of the Ministry fall directly under the jurisdiction of the CEO and consist of the following divisions:

• The Educational Planning Division
• The School Supervision Division
• The Curriculum Development division
• The Educational Services Division

 This division is headed by the Director of Educational Planning. The Planning Division is responsible for the formulation and implementation of Government's policy in respect to on-going reform of the education system in the context of national development.

This division basically engages in the following activities:

• The planning and construction of schools,
• Collaboration in curriculum planning and development activities,
• The supply of equipment for the operation of schools,
• Technical activities such as needs assessment and plan proposals,
• The development and operation of a national database to facilitate informed decision making in the area of educational planning
• The evaluation of specific programmes for reorientation of approaches to ensure efficiency,
• The provision of feedback to inform policy,
• Review of national policies.

 This division is headed by the Director of School Supervision. The main functions of this division revolve around the supervision of eight educational districts and inspection of the programme of education required by the curriculum and execution of supervisory functions as stipulated by Section 26 of the Education Act. Some of its other important functions relate to the coordinate of the activities of the following branch units:

• Early Childhood Care and Education - which has overall responsibility for the provision and management of early childhood care and education
• Special Education - which has responsibility for the provision, organization and management of special education.
• Guidance - which provides the school system with guidance and counselling services.
• Teacher Education - this includes the supervision of two training colleges and other teacher education programmes.

 This division is headed by the Director of Curriculum Division and has the responsibility for the design development, implementation and evaluation of curricula offered at all levels of the education system.

The Education Services Division

 A Director of Educational Services (D.E.S.) heads this division which is responsible for the provision of services to facilitate the delivery of the curriculum.

 Under the purview of this division fall the following sections:

• The Examinations Section - which has the responsibility for administering both national and foreign examinations,
• The School Broadcasting Unit - which offers programmes which support the school curriculum,
• The Publication Unit - which is responsible for publishing and printing educational and other material throughout the country,
• The Adult Educational Unit - which provides and promotes adult education,
• The Electronic Data Processing Unit - which manages the collation and processing of data regarding examinations, cheques, etc., and
• The Audiovisual Unit - which develops audiovisual programmes and instructional material.

 This division is headed by a Director of Educational Research and Evaluation (D.E.R.E.) who is responsible for the management of the ongoing system - wide performance evaluation and provides quality information generation to inform policy formulation and decision making for the education system. Its responsibilities include:

• Promoting research and evaluation through the development of appropriate policies, structures and procedures,
• Generating and disseminating quality information for enhancing the educational process which includes liaising with other agencies / individuals engaged in educational research, and
• Project selection and coordination, as well as the monitoring of such research projects.

The RCLRC houses the Divisions of Curriculum Development, Educational Services and School Libraries. It provides teacher training, curriculum development, materials production and library services.

The Trinidad and Tobago National Commission for UNESCO

This unit serves as the channel of communication between UNESCO and governmental agencies concerned with the fields of education, the sciences, culture and information. It advises them on matters related to the drafting and implementation of UNESCO's programmes for Trinidad and Tobago. The Commission also liaises and collaborates with National Commissions of States outside of Trinidad and Tobago, especially at the regional level to share information with and inform national agencies of the recommendations adopted at its meetings. This Commission is headed by a Secretary General.

Education Project Co-ordinating Unit

The function of this unit is to manage the implementation of the fourth Government of Trinidad and Tobago / International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (I.B.R.D.) Education Project. It is headed by a Project Co-ordinator.

School Nutrition Programme

 The School Nutrition Programme, headed by a Director, is responsible for providing nutritious meals to 10,200 Secondary school students three days per week and 64,300 Primary school and 2,000 Pre-school students, five (5) days per week.

The General Administration Division

 The responsibility of this division is basically to provide the support services that will enable the Ministry to carry out its operations. This division is headed by an Administrative Officer V.

Finance and Accounts Division

 This division is headed by a Director of Finance and Accounts and is responsible for all the Ministry's financial and accounting functions. The main function include the following:

• Estimates and budgeting control,
• System and procedures,
• Accounting operations,
• Tenders and contracts, and
• Capital works accounts.

 This unit is responsible for the examination and appraisal of financial and accounting activities within the various divisions of the Ministry. It is headed by an Internal Auditor 11.

The Management Information Systems Division

This unit is headed by a Systems Analyst 11 and is responsible for planning, managing and monitoring the introduction and operations of the management information system of the Ministry of Education in terms of both hardware and software.

The Personnel and Industrial Relations Division

The responsibilities of the Personnel and Industrial Relations Division concern the personnel and industrial relations of the Ministry. All matters pertaining to employees from their recruitment to their exit from the service via retirement / resignation are processed by this division. This division is headed by an Administration Officer V.

The Human Resource Management Division

 This division is, at present, headed by a Human Resource Manager. The division is responsible for:

• Human Resource Planning
• Industrial and employee Relations,
• Organizational Development and Training and
• Personnel Management and Administration

 This unit is headed by a Project Unit Manager. It is responsible for overseering the construction, maintenance and refurbishing of the physical facilities and the procurement of furniture and equipment under the preview of the Ministry of education. In the execution of this responsibility, it discharges the following functions: the Monitoring of repairs, renovations, extensions and maintenance works carried out at:

• Government primary and secondary schools,
• Other facilities owned by the Ministry of Education and
• Assisted schools through the following:

 This division is headed by a Director and is responsible for the provision and administration of Technical and Vocational education and training for the country.
 

Source:Information Division
 
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