CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – MORE than 100 teachers and former teachers turned out for the Nevis Teachers’ Union (NTU) 2nd Solidarity March and Rally held in Charlestown on Monday, October 5.
The educators, who joined colleagues around the globe in celebrating World Teachers’ Day, marched from the Nevis Cultural Centre through Main Street and on to the Villa Grounds, where they were addressed by, among others, NTU President Adina Taylor.
Taylor, who is also the principal of the St. John’s Primary School, told the teachers that they are handpicked by God to teach and mold the lives of students.
“As teachers we have to ensure that students acquire the basic literacy and life skills along with making sure that they become responsible and active citizens, at ease with new technologies, able to make informed decisions about health, the environment and other challenges.”
Taylor explained that to do this the NTU must develop a well-trained and motivated teaching force in spite of the economic slowdown. She said it is also crucial that in “these hard economic times” the investment in teachers also matches the demands made upon them.
“It is the teaching force with its creativity, determination, strong leadership, innovation and motivation that will secure a post crisis generation.”
The NTU head appealed to teachers to get onboard and help make the body bigger, better and stronger.
“Teachers, let us be strong with one voice so we can gain the power we need to move forward as we seek to gain more bargaining power.”
Taylor also appealed to the Nevis Island Administration to join UNESCO, ILO, UNDP and UNICEF and secure a sustainable future by investing in teachers now. She said a good way to demonstrate this is to give the NTU the piece of land it is negotiating as a gift for its 20th anniversary.
Other items on Monday’s programme included songs performed by all the teachers and steel pan renditions by the Charlestown Primary School teachers.
World Teachers’ Day, which is held annually on October 5, is just one of several activities organised for the month by the NTU. Other events include a Bake Sale on Saturday (Oct. 10) from 7:00 a.m. at the Charlestown market; Biennial Conference at the Red Cross Building on October 14 at 7:00 p.m., where the guest speaker will be Mackee France; Pot Luck Lunch on October 16; Awards Dinner on October 17 at Mount Nevis Hotel; Take-away Lunch on October 23 at the Red Cross Building from 11:30 to 2:00; Variety Concert on October 24 at the Nevis Cultural Centre; Professional Day on October 30 at a venue to be announced; and a Vintage Sale and Fun Day on October 31 at the Villa Grounds.
