Ena Barclay, president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association.

Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

As the nation observes May 4-10 as 'Education Week', Ena Barclay, president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA), has expressed with regret the growing number of violent incidents in schools across the island.

"The year so far has offered many challenges and opportunities," Barclay said in her Education Week message.

Among the challenges, she said, is the increase in violence in schools and communities, adding that the JTA has been in constant discussions with the Ministry of Education to identify and implement strategies to reduce violence in schools.

"The reality is, however, that our society is a violent one. We need a time-out period where each of us can reflect on his or her role in the rescuing of our country from lawlessness," Barclay said.

Disrespect

The JTA president continued: "We need to improve our relationships with one another. Our children cannot continue to grow up in circumstances where so many adults behave with total disrespect towards each other. All of us must re-embrace kindness and good manners as part of our social responsibilities."

A feud recently between students of Kingston College and St George's College left some nursing stab wounds. Just a day later, students from two Corporate Area girls' schools were also involved in a public dispute.

On Thursday, a group of students at the Marcus Garvey High School in St Ann, hurled missiles at the principal, Leslie Riley, in protest against his return as head teacher after vacation leave.

Each year, the Jamaica Teachers' Association marks the first full week in May as Education Week. The purpose of observing this period is to further sensitise the wider society to the value of education to national development.

Education Week is being observed under the theme 'Building a Culture of Learning in Schools: Enabling Independent, Enthusiastic and Successful Learners.'

Barclay says this theme underscores the belief that schools and society need to embrace a new outlook on teaching and learning.

"There has to be a new kind of teacher, a new kind of student and a new kind of society interacting in a new kind of learning environment to produce the best outcomes," said Barclay.

Learning society

She added: "As a society, we must put a greater premium on learning by becoming a learning society. Teachers, parents, the Church and other education stakeholders need to consciously adopt learning as a way of life."

One of the major initiatives during Education Week will be 'Read Across Jamaica Day.' This activity began four years ago in an effort to promote literacy and love for reading.

"We want children to develop the habit of reading from an early age. Hence, we need to help our children to develop the skills that will make them literate because their future educational advancement rests on this foundation," said the JTA president.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com

List of activities for Education Week