The Rev. Lenworth Haughton (left), pastor of the Christ Anglican Church, St. Thomas, prays for newly installed president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA), Ena Barclay, at the JTA's 43rd annual conference held Monday night at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort & Spa in Ocho Rios, St. Ann. Also in the picture is immediate past president of the JTA, Hopeton Henry (right). - Roger Robinson/Freelance Photographer

Immediate past president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA), Hopeton Henry, on Monday, urged teachers to vote for the party that has made the most contribution to education.

"Teachers as voters must take a long and hard look down the years. Do not be swayed by slogans and petty disaffection, but instead, look at the party that has done the most for education over the years," Mr. Henry told delegates during his outgoing address at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort and Spa, St. Ann.

"Weigh them in the scale, use your head wisely - no pun intended ... ," Mr. Henry said amid laughter at the JTA's 43rd annual conference, which is being held under the theme: 'Quality Education - A National Responsibility'.

On Monday, which was the first day of the three-day conference, the election campaign slogans/terms were widely used as some members, primarily Mr. Henry, joked about 'staying on course' and 'moving full speed ahead' - two popular slogans of the governing People's National Party's campaign.

The major focus

The immediate past president said the recent debate around education is narrow and self-serving, adding that the major focus is on cost sharing when there is the major issue of transforming the education system.

"Within this system of transformation, the teachers' voices will not be shut out. We must speak to working conditions, the low wages and the issue of the protection of rights," said Mr. Henry.

He continued: "The nation's political parties must understand thatto improve the working conditions of teachers is to improve the learning conditions of students."

Mr. Henry urged the JTA to establish a solidarity fund to protect members of the teaching profession.