Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has hailed the country’s educators as “activators of potential”.
“It does not matter how many classrooms we build or how many tablets we distribute, because without the educator, education stalls. The educator is the activator of potential; the educator is the conscience of the classroom. The educator is the one who takes policy and breathes life into it,” he said.
Dr. Holness was addressing the ceremony for the presentation of the Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation for Service to Education held on Wednesday (May 28) on the lawns of Jamaica House.
A total of 79 deserving educators were recognised during the biennial awards ceremony – 39 for 2023 and 40 for 2024.
Instituted in 2005, the medal is given to an educator who has served for a minimum of 15 years, displayed exceptional service in the teaching profession and has shown evidence of community involvement, innovation and creativity in service.
“This award is a statement, a clear national declaration that says you matter. Your service matters. Your commitment counts. Your legacy is very much real,” Dr. Holness said.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister noted that progress continues to be made in the implementation of the Jamaica Education Transformation Commission (JETC) report, prioritising literacy, numeracy and the implementation of increased nutritional and transportation support.
“The transformation that we are seeking is to get the greatest utility out of the significant education budget that we spend, so that we can produce Jamaicans who are aligned to our economic interests, who are pro-social and pro-growth in their outlook, in their mentality and in their attitudes,” he said.
He noted that the aim is to prepare Jamaican students to be able to participate confidently in the 21st century.
“We want our students to be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Singaporean students, with the South Korean students, with the Chinese students, with the Trinidadian students, with the American students. So, we have a lot of work to do, but I know we are up to the task because we have the educators as exemplified here who are committed, competent and capable,” he noted.
Dr. Holness reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensuring that every Jamaican child has access to high-quality education.
“We will continue to invest in teacher development, support school leaders and modernise education infrastructure. My Administration will continue to expand pathways from school to work, from training to industry and from classroom to leadership,” he declared.