Teachers Week concludes with Rally

By Melissa Bryant
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE support for this year’s Teachers Week with the theme “Teachers Matter” was evident, as hundreds of teachers, students and parents came together on Friday, October 10 to march through the streets of Basseterre and attended a rally in Independence Square stressing the importance of teachers.

The March and Rally were the final events in a week that was filled with appreciation for the Federation’s educators.

On Monday (Oct. 6) three retirees received tokens of appreciation for their long and dedicated service, while Tuesday and Wednesday (Oct. 7 and 8 respectively) were designated as Teacher Appreciation Days, as students were encouraged to show admiration for their teachers in a variety of ways, including the purchase of special tags honouring the occasion.

The March began at Basseterre High School (BHS) around 9:45 a.m. with the lively music of DJ Fresh, as the participants displayed banners and placards that celebrated the teaching profession. 

On arrival at the Square, Clyde Christopher, immediate past President of the St. Kitts Teachers Union (SKTU), delivered brief opening remarks to commence the Rally and BHS student Karissa Willett sang a calypso urging youth to avoid violence and become positive citizens.

Minister of Education, the Hon. Sam Condor publicly commended the island’s teachers for their dedication and success, and challenged them to continue the good work and to become even more efficient. “The power lies within you to give each individual the gift of education and to develop each of their unique interests and talents."

The featured speaker was Analdo Bailey, General Manager of Home Mortgages at ECCB, whose presentation focused on the week’s theme.

Carlene Henry-Morton, General Secretary of the SKTU, was pleased with the event’s turn-out and the overall response from the community throughout the week.

“It is good to see that people are recognising the importance of teachers. Our teaching is not limited to academic content; rather, when we see a need, whether it is spiritual, social, et cetera, we aim to fulfil it. We are trying to get that message out not just for today, but for generations. Teachers are channels through which values and traditions are passed on,” she said.

She challenged the public to imagine a world without teachers and confidently asserted that it would not be a place anyone would want to live in.

Henry-Morton also stressed the need for collaboration among entities. 

“The SKTU is not just about the teachers; it’s about all the stakeholders, including the public sector, private sector, students and parents. If all of us do not work together, then little will be achieved.

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