Prime Minister and opposition leader salute teachers

Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller have lauded the contributions of teachers to national development.

"We join the nation in celebrating teachers for their invaluable contribution to the growth and development of our nation. Jamaica's global impact has been inextricably linked to the incredible job our teachers have done in nurturing and shaping the minds of our brightest leaders, some of whom have transformed industries and blazed illustrious paths locally and internationally," Holness said in his Teacher's Day message.

He commended teachers for having the best interests of children at the forefront of their minds. He also acknowledged the multiple roles teachers play and pledged to continue creating an improved education system.

"As you celebrate your day, we express our sincere gratitude for your commitment to the awesome responsibility of providing quality education for our students and wish for you a day of affirmation and reflection. God bless you," he said.

Simpson Miller used her message to highlight the role that teachers can play in creating societal change.

"Teachers are the cornerstone of the education system and a major influence on the development of our children. As important agents of socialisation and role models for children, our teachers are powerful agents of change in our society, which is in need of radical social change to become a more wholesome, gentler, and more caring society," she said.

According to Simpson Miller, teachers are a special group of workers.

"The impact of their work is felt across all sectors and is a vital part of laying the critical groundwork for the continued social and economic progress of the nation. Their efforts are, therefore, worthy of special focus and I am delighted to join in paying tribute to them today," she said.