Nevis’ teachers urged to commit to providing quality education through self-development and teamwork

NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS – Immediate Past President of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) Clayton Hall has encouraged teachers on Nevis to work as a unified body and share experiences in an effort to promote quality education on the island.

The advice came at the annual Nevis Teachers’ Union (NTU) March and Rally held at the Memorial Square on October 4, 2013, one day ahead of the UNESCO World Teachers’ Day observance, where Hall gave the feature address endorsing Solution-Driven Unionism.

“As unionists, we have a responsibility above and beyond the regular teacher…The Teachers’ Union is not just a union involved in procuring increases of salary or procuring things that will benefit the teacher but teachers’ unions have a responsibility because, by far, you are the largest and in some cases the only group that will lobby for the development of student and education policies,” he said.

Hall explained that each teacher has a responsibility to ensure the effectiveness of the Union through teamwork.

“Teachers, it is not all the time that the Union does things we want. It is not all the time that our union lives up to the expectation we have but we have a responsibility because the union is singular. I have a responsibility to my union and it is that responsibility that the union has to me. Instead of sitting aside and saying it is not doing, let us all stand up and do. It is what we do that the union will reflect,” he said.

Hall along with Nevis’ teachers pledged, to commit and dedicate themselves to the fine art which is teaching in an effort to provide the students with quality education.

“We are teachers, and today…let us, as we stand, make the solemn promise to embrace the duty, the awesome joy, with common effort and common purpose, with passion and dedication. Let us answer the call of history and carry into an uncertain future, the precious light of education,” he said.

NTU President Ermelita Elliott, who also addressed the rally, called on teachers to build on the foundation laid by past NTU members and expressed the Union’s gratitude to the NIA for the day of reflection.

“The call for teachers today is to ensure that we have improved on the gains that we have acquired over the years. Let us remember that Union business is serious business….Humility walks closely beside accountability and dedication in the Union business, as we call for teachers to recommit themselves to diligence for this school year,” she said.

Also addressing the rally was Premier and Minister of Education in the NIA Hon. Vance Amory.