Teachers across Anguilla returned to their classrooms on Monday this week, October 12, empowered by an Appreciation Week, Conference and words of encouragement from various persons.
The past week of activities climaxed on Friday, October 9, with a mass meeting and conference at the Rodney MacArthur Rey Auditorium. The event had as its theme: Empowering teachers through networking and capacity building. It was a colourful event as the educators were attired in pink clothing in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month which ran parallel with their own activities over that weekend.
Minister of Education, Mr. Evans McNiel Rogers, commended the Anguilla Teachers’ Union and their President, Teacher Emma Ferguson, for their initiative to show appreciation for the island’s teachers through a series of activities. He was happy that the union had undertaken to reinforce the significant role of teachers in the development of Anguilla’s human capital as well as in national development.
“I understand that it is the role of the Anguilla Teachers’ Union to assist in the development of a healthy perception of teaching and nation-building,” the Minister went on. “I am extremely encouraged by this because quite often many persons fail to see the link between what they do and the success of our nation.”
Mr. Rogers added: “We have a responsibility to adequately prepare our children to take up their respective roles in the labour market, in society and for life after school. I trust that all teachers fully accept their share of this responsibility and take pride in the role they play, as it goes a long way in upholding their part in nation-building.”
The Minister’s address was followed by remarks from Ms. Colleen Horsford, Acting Chief Education Officer; Mr. Clemvio Hodge, Leader and ‘Chief Minister’ of the recently-established Youth Parliament in Anguilla; Mr. Shamar Gaskins, President of the National Youth Council; Ms. Emma Ferguson, President of the Anguilla Teachers’ Union; Apostle E. Allen, a Devotional Speaker; and Mrs. Claire Elshot-Advenurin, President of the Windward Islands Teachers’ Union in St. Maarten. The various speakers joined the Minister of Education in encouraging the teachers to execute their responsibilities at a high level and to pursue ways and means towards greater personal empowerment.
