The academic school year 2019/2020 began with the launch of Education month under the theme –Education the key to National Development- at the Ministry of Education Sports Complex on Carifesta Avenue.
Education month is observed in September every year to reflect on what has been done to develop education in the country and also look at what more can be done.
Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry officially declared the month of activities opened and noted that if education fails, the nation fails.
According to the Minister, the investment of $52.2B this year into the education sector is crucial to the development of the nation.
“As a nation, we can never stop learning especially our children,” the Minister said.
Among the activities planned to celebrate education month is a sports day for special needs children, national signing bee competition, the observation of International Literacy Day on September 8, Mural painting on the Georgetown Kingston seawalls, engineering and technology fair, panel discussions, the launching of an ebook library, debating competition, parents seminar, secondary teachers in concert, a cookout competition, music and drama festival.
All of these activities will be held in different regions across the country and will conclude with a national awards ceremony.
Chief Education Officer Marcel Hutson encouraged teachers to be the visionary leaders that will seek to empower the nation.
“It is vital at this juncture for us to recognize that our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education and that the human mind is our fundamental resource,” Hutson said.
He also encouraged parents to remain committed to the development of their children by sustaining and motivating them throughout their school years.
“I want to encourage all of our students to be focused on learning in the classroom and to be respectful to your teachers.”
