144 Veteran Teachers Honoured with JTA Golden Torch Awards in Kingston

One hundred and forty-four teachers, each with no fewer than 35 years in the profession, received the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) Golden Torch Award at a ceremony held at the AC Hotel by Marriott Kingston.

Terry Ann Thomas Gayle, Acting Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, told the gathering that the recipients had shown remarkable commitment to Jamaica's schools. She praised them for staying the course amid rapid changes in technology, tough economic conditions, the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak, and, more recently, Hurricane Melissa.

"The ministry recognises that long service is not merely a passage of time. It is an accumulation of wisdom, the refinement of craft, the deepening of relationships with students and communities, and the quiet persistence of professionals who have chosen to remain in the classroom when other opportunities may have beckoned," she said.

Thomas Gayle said the awardees hold their schools' shared history, guide newer colleagues, and represent a field that frequently "demands more than it receives."

"The ministry salutes you. Jamaica owes you a debt of gratitude that no ceremony can fully repay," she said.

La Sonja Harrison, JTA President-Elect, spoke on behalf of the current president, Mark Malabver. She applauded the group for the many years they have given to teaching.

"Collectively, you have amassed 5,240 years of service to this nation. As you receive this award, know that this is what man can give you… but it is only God who truly gives you the reward you're so deserving of," she said.

Harrison added that the teachers' careers still inspire hope among their relatives, pupils, and wider communities.