Teachers Are the Bedrock of a Progressive Jamaica
Prime Minister Dr the Most Honourable Andrew Holness says teachers play an indispensable role in building a modern, competitive Jamaica and building the country’s human capital. As the nation’s economic landscape evolves, the Prime Minister made it clear that the greatest challenge to growth is no longer financial; it is human capacity.
Speaking on Wednesday (May 7, 2025), Teacher’s Day, to the Students and Teachers at the Mico University College, the Prime Minister declared: “This is now the primary constraint on our growth. Not capital, less so infrastructure, but people. The capacity, productivity, and readiness of our workforce”.
Big things are happening in Jamaica
With Jamaica boasting record-low unemployment of 3.7% and strengthened macroeconomic fundamentals, the demand for highly skilled labour such as engineers, healthcare workers, IT professionals, and, critically, qualified teachers, has surged. Addressing this labour shortage, the Prime Minister reaffirmed that education must lead the charge in building national resilience and opportunity.
“This is why human capital development is a central pillar in our national growth strategy. Under the ASPIRE framework, our comprehensive plan for economic transformation, the ‘P’ stands for people and human capital development. We are putting people at the heart of our growth model because no nation can develop faster than its education system allows,” said Prime Minister Holness.
The Prime Minister added, “As a country, we are at a unique moment in our post-independence journey. For the first time in our modern history, the binding constraint on our economic growth is no longer the availability of capital. The truth is that our macroeconomic fundamentals have significantly improved. We have reduced our debt-to-GDP ratio, maintained low inflation, and earned investor confidence through strong fiscal management and prudent governance.”
Recognizing the teaching profession as the cornerstone of that development, the Prime Minister passionately affirmed the societal value of educators. “Teachers are the bedrock of any progressive society. You shape the minds that shape the future. You prepare every other profession… and therefore you should and must be a profession and recognized as such.”
To this end, the government is prioritizing the Jamaica Teaching Council legislation, a strategic move to professionalize teaching and provide the structural support necessary for educators to grow, thrive, and lead.
In the meantime, as Jamaica transitions to a skills-based economy, educators are central players in shaping a prosperous and progressive future.