TEACH for the Philippines, a non-profit organization, partnered with the University of Canterbury College of Education, Health and Human Development for a five-week development course for teachers.

The online professional development course on leadership and learning was followed by a series of virtual workshops. At least 50 teachers participated in the seminar.

The course began in mid-January.

Teach for the Philippines aims to provide Filipino children with an inclusive, high quality education.

UC Emeritus Professor Janinka Greenwood said that she was pleased to teach the Filipino teachers.

“They’re a pleasure to teach because they’re very engaged and engaging, but the biggest issue they’re facing is Covid. It’s always underlying our discussions around how do we provide leadership and learning,” she said.

UC International Relations Coordinator Tony Baird said that online courses were introduced to keep relationships going in a post-Covid world.

Baird said that UC’s College of Education, Health and Human Development has an established reputation for running short courses on campus for educators from several Asian countries, including China, Japan, Korea and Bangladesh.