The National Council on Education (NCE) applauds all teachers in Jamaica as they celebrate Teachers’ Day on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. Teachers are considered one of the most important human resources in our country and by extension the world. They play a critical role in preparing individuals at all levels of society to cope with the ever-changing needs of the dynamic world in which we live. Teachers are required to play multiple roles while at school. In addition to facilitating learning for our students, they serve as  counsellors, social workers, motivators, mentors, mobilizers, mediators and even arbitrators.  At times, they even act for parents during their absence.

The National Council on Education recognises teachers’ worth and their significant contributions to nation-building. It is against this background that the Council salutes our teachers and all other teachers worldwide as we celebrate Teachers’ Day.  As you seek to execute this important role, we encourage you to continue embracing appropriate principles and acts of love, equity, fairness, teamwork, compassion, kindness, and patience that will make our children and students become better citizens May you also continue to be tenacious as you navigate challenging situations in  building resiliency in your students.

The NCE thanks our teachers for their commitment to educating our nation. The value of our teachers’ work and worth cannot be overstated. According to Mayo Angelou:

“This is the value of the teacher, who looks at a face and says there's something behind that and I want to reach that person, I want to influence that person, I want to encourage that person, I want to enrich, I want to call out that person who is behind that face, behind that color, behind that language, behind that tradition, behind that culture. I believe you can do it. I know what was done for me.”

As our teachers continue to explore and embrace effective strategies to empower our nation’s students to learn and develop their full potential, the National Council on Education salutes them and wishes them all the best in their teaching endeavours as we work to build an inclusive education system in which Jamaica’s children may “learn to know, learn to do, learn to live with each other and learn to be” (UNESCO, 1996).

Thank you teachers and continue the good work.

The National Council on Education, a statutory organization, is the main policy advisory body on educational matters to the Minister of Education. It is also responsible for nominating for appointment and training school board members and conducting research to support its policy initiatives and the goals of the education system.