About PSSBOE

The Presbyterian Secondary Schools’ Board of Education is entrusted with the management of the five established Secondary schools. The Board upholds the outlined mission of the PCTT within the Presbyterian Secondary School system and applauds the prodigious efforts of all stakeholders in the extraordinary standard of education and achievement delivered and attained respectively at our institutions. 

MISSION STATEMENT

The Presbyterian Secondary Schools’ Board of Education as the representing body of the Presbyterian Church in Trinidad and Tobago will ensure partnership with our faculty in the affiliated Secondary Schools to provide; effective management and guidance, a commitment to providing high quality God-centered learning environment that promotes academic excellence, social responsibility and physical and emotional well-being for all students. The Presbyterian Secondary Schools’ Board of Education as the representing body of the Presbyterian Church in Trinidad and Tobago will ensure partnership with our faculty in the affiliated Secondary Schools to provide; effective management and guidance, a commitment to providing high quality God-centered learning environment that promotes academic excellence, social responsibility and physical and emotional well-being for all students. We will perpetuate our faith as part of our evangelistic mission so that all stakeholders will come to know Jesus Christ and his good work. We hold high expectations for each child and commit ourselves to provide an education that encourages each student to realize his or her fullest potential. We will remain vigilant at all times to responsible fiscal management as mandated by our church constitution.

VISION STATEMENT

The Presbyterian Secondary Schools’ Board of Education provides an effective management team that will lead to the development of a strong educational foundation which inspires students to achieve academic excellence. Our dedicated faculty stimulates intellectual growth using a challenging curriculum within a supportive learning environment. We encourage stakeholders to become god-centered, autonomous, lifelong learners who are well prepared for the academic and social challenges of the future.

PHILOSOPHY

The Presbyterian Secondary Schools’ Board Of Education believes that all students can achieve their fullest potiential as we are all created in God’ image and likeness. The mission of the Board is to provide an avenue for the perpetuation of our Presbyterian faith, a student-centered education of the highest quality, utilizing the unique vision and resources of church, home, school, and community to ensure a stable learning environment rigorous in academic standards, rich in diversity, sensitive to individual needs, and committed to developing compassionate beings who are confident, competent, and creative learners.

NAME

Synod shall appoint for the management and control of all Secondary Schools established under its jurisdiction, a Board of Management which shall be known as The Presbyterian Secondary Schools' Board of Education.

DUTIES

The Presbyterian Secondary Schools' Board of Education shall be directly accountable to Synod for all matters pertaining to the welfare/maintenance, and development of Secondary Education of the Schools under its jurisdiction.

The Presbyterian Secondary Schools' Board of Education shall advise its Principals on matters affecting the establishment and maintenance of highest possible standards in the efficient management of the Secondary Schools under its jurisdiction.
The Presbyterian Secondary Schools' Board of Education shall exercise such powers and perform such duties with regard to the control and management of assisted Secondary Schools by the Education Act/Ordinance and the regulations made under the Act/Ordinance, including the twenty percent (20%) intake as a result of the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) Examination, or by any other method used to govern the intake of pupils into Secondary schools under the jurisdiction of Synod. The Principal (if unable to attend) or the Vice Principal, together with two members appointed by the Board, shall select such pupils for these schools, based upon applications received by each School through Sessions.

The Board shall make recommendations to Synodical Council for its approval with respect to the appointment, transfer, discipline, suspension, dismissal, resignation and retirement of Principals and Vice Principals of Assisted Secondary Schools. Such recommendations, if approved by Synodical Council, shall be referred to the Board for necessary action. For this purpose all Principals and Vice Principals must be Presbyterians in good standing, i.e. active communicant members for at least fifteen consecutive years.

If, in the event that a recommendation is not yet approved by the Teaching Service Commission because of any irregularity, then the Synodical Council, through the Board, has the right to recall the recommendation and review its decision.

All other appointments with respect to other staff in Secondary Schools shall be recommended to the Teaching Service Commission by the Board. In all such cases, all things being equal, qualified Presbyterians in good standing shall be preferred.

Sessions shall submit reports on a candidate's church activities, church support, moral and spiritual standing etc.; an appropriate questionnaire will be prepared and supplied by the Board of Education for Secondary Schools.

MEMBERSHIP

The Presbyterian Secondary Schools' Board of Education shall comprise one representative from each Pastoral Region either Lay or Ministerial, elected from among the members of the Session by secret ballot, and there shall be two Principals elected by the Synod on a rotation basis for one term, two (2) years.
Each Session of a Region shall elect an alternate to its representative from the membership of the Session. Alternates may attend meetings and, in the absence of the permanent representatives, will then have the status of full membership for that meeting only.
Sessions shall have the power to recall either their permanent representative, or alternate, at a duly constituted meeting of the Session on a two-thirds majority vote of the members present and voting. Members of the Sessions shall be informed at a previous meeting of a notice of motion for such a recall. This shall be circulated at least two (2) weeks in advance and included on the Agenda of the meeting in which the decision is to be taken.

ELECTIONS

The Moderator shall convene and preside at the first meeting of the Board to conduct the election of Officers.

OFFICERS

 The Board, at its first meeting under the convenorship of the Moderator, who shall also conduct the elections, shall elect the following Officers:

1. Chairperson           
2. Deputy Chairperson     
3. General Secretary 
4. Recording Secretary       
5. Treasurer  

DUTIES OF OFFICERS

1. The Chairperson shall preside over meetings of the Board and shall have a casting vote only.
2. The Deputy Chairperson shall be a regular member of the Board, but shall carry out the duties of the Chairperson in his/her absence and shall have the powers of the Chairperson for that meeting only.
3. The General Secretary shall see that all decisions of the Board are carried out promptly, to follow up on all appointments, promotions, transfers and all matters decided upon by the Board.
4. The Recording Secretary shall keep an accurate account of all matters discussed or agreed to at all meetings of the Board in a bound book and ensure that a summary of the business of meetings is submitted to the General Secretary for circulation to members of the Board.
5. The Treasurer shall keep a proper account of all monies collected and disbursed by the Board. He/she shall be the Financial Officer of the Board and shall be accountable to the Board and/or Synod, on financial matters. He/she shall submit audited Financial Statements as prescribed by this Constitution and the Constitution of the Church.

QUORUM

One-third (1/3) of the membership of the Board shall form a quorum.

MEETINGS

The Presbyterian Secondary Schools' Board of Education shall meet at the Headquarters of the Board on the first Saturday of every month (Statutory Meeting) and on such other occasions as may be necessary for the transactions of the business of the Board.

HEADQUARTERS

The Headquarters shall be at an Office designated by Synod.