Barclay

As the nation celebrates Teachers' Day today, the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) says it will continue to lobby for improvement in salaries and working conditions for the island's educators.

JTA President Ena Barclay said in her Teachers' Day message yesterday that tutors at all levels of the education system continue to work beyond the call of duty.

"As the guardians of the Jamaican education system, teachers deserve remuneration and conditions of work that are commensurate with the invaluable contribution that they continue to provide," Barclay said.

Creditable improvements

The JTA president said despite the criticisms that have been levelled against teachers regarding the performance of students, there have been consistently creditable improvements in student performance over the past few years.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Bruce Golding said the role of teachers was central to the process of educating people.

"Today we salute them for their dedication and hard work," Golding said. "We must place more value on the work they do in not only imparting knowledge to our students but in moulding the characters and instilling in them the values that must inform their lives as good citizens."

Teachers saluted

Kemesha Kelly, president of the National Secondary Schools Council, also saluted the island's teachers.

"We acknowledge that oftentimes, teachers do not get the credit that they deserve," Kelly said.

She continued: "We are proud of our teachers and we hope that despite the challenges, they bear with us and continue to mould our lives."

The National Parent-Teachers' Association of Jamaica pledged to do its best in advocating for positive changes in the educational system.