Tue | Apr 23, 2024

Teachers urged to stay grounded amid uncertainties

Published:Wednesday | August 24, 2022 | 12:05 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
Winston Smith (centre), outgoing president of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) in discussion with Colin Greene (left), past president, Caribbean Union of Teachers, and La Sonja Harrison, president-elect, JTA, at the opening ceremony of the 58th An
Ashley Anguin
Winston Smith (centre), outgoing president of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) in discussion with Colin Greene (left), past president, Caribbean Union of Teachers, and La Sonja Harrison, president-elect, JTA, at the opening ceremony of the 58th Annual Conference held at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort and Spa in Montego Bay on Monday.

WESTERN BUREAU:

As the nation’s teachers continue to buckle under the strain of the issues affecting the education sector, the country’s premier teachers’ union, the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), is urging the teachers not to lose focus.

Winston Smith, immediate past president of the JTA, in seeking to cushion the looming challenge to the education sector, is urging the teachers who have decided to stay in Jamaica to remain grounded as they prepare to return to the classroom when the new academic year begins officially on September 5.

“Colleagues, as we prepare for back to school, I call on every one of us; do not become overwhelmed by the anxiety of fear, but remain strong,” said Smith, while speaking during the opening session of the 58th annual conference of the JTA in Montego Bay, St James.

The conference is being staged just weeks ahead of the reopening of the new school year that looks set to be seriously affected by a mass migration of teachers to so-called greener pastures outside of Jamaica.

Smith told the teachers that it is important that they remain focused because the message that they will bring as educators will impact the quality of life in their classrooms.

“Just be mindful though, that parents will come, and they will be anxious. They will be nervous, but you, all of us, as we return to the classroom, let our answer be one of hope, let your faith in God come to the fore, recognising that you have started a good work and you can’t stop, you must finish,” said Smith.

With migration being the biggest ticket item on the long list of problems facing the education sector, Smith noted that while it has been reported that many teachers have taken the migration route, those who remain will be faced with more work.

“It, therefore, colleagues, causes us to understand and reflect and to project because the reality is that those of us who remain may have a more challenging job,” said the veteran educator.

The three-day conference is being held from August 22 to 24 against the theme ‘Revisiting the foundation, building our human capital through equitable education opportunities’.