JTA president urges greater co-operation among teachers, parents and communities

The president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) is urging for greater co-operation among teachers, parents and communities on the eve of the new academic year.

In his new school year message, Dr Garth Anderson urged parents and students to "see in the difficulties opportunities to be exploited, work with your teachers and school administrators to optimise your full potential".

He added: "Great success can be achieved when school, parents, students and community work together for the advancement of education."

The new JTA president says the organisation has taken note of the recent cases of violence against children and promised to assist in the fight against the problem.

"We have seen too many of our children being impacted seriously by crime and violence. Therefore, it’s our intention to assist in stemming this level of aggression against our young people which unfortunately finds itself in our school environs," Anderson said.

In the meantime, he promised teachers that the JTA, under his leadership, would continue to press the government for better working conditions and to pay more attention to the health and well-being of teachers.

"Our voice will be loud and clear on matters affecting and relating to education. It will be a voice of reason and solution-oriented," the JTA president promised.

He said the teachers' association would continue to monitor the implementation of the new Primary Exit Profile (PEP) in primary schools across the island.