James Otis James cops Parent of the Year award

MAY PEN, Clarendon:

AND THE award for Parent of the Year goes to ... Otis James of the James and Friends Education Programme.

James copped the Ministry of Education's national award for the Most Outstanding Parent in Region Six (Clarendon and St Catherine).

He is the founder and coordinator of the James and Friends Education Programme, based in Clarendon, which has more than 170 students being schooled through the programme. As a result, he was nominated by some of the schools in Clarendon (where he has students) to be considered for this award.

Having satisfied the criteria, James was selected and presented with the prestigious award recently.

"It feels good to be recognised by the Ministry of Education for my hard work and dedication. I am really and truly happy," James told Rural Xpress.

Criteria

To be selected as the most outstanding parent, certain criteria must be met. The parent must be actively involved in school-related activities as well as in the life of the student. There must also be regular attendance and participation in the school's parent-teacher association, and the parent must show an interest in the child's academic progress and well-being.

James said although he was grateful to be recognised by the Ministry of Education, he was quick to point out that he wasn't working for an award. "If mi did a do it for award, me would stop already because mi see big award ceremony keep in and out of Clarendon and dem neva nominate me or recognise me. But because me know me never a do it for award, mi a do it straight from mi heart fi di youth dem."

He continued: "It just comes like normal work for me because mi nah do dis fi award or fi hang up plaque inna house. Mi jus a do it from mi heart. Everything mi a do is jus for the betterment of the youth dem.

"The greatest award to me will be to live till mi old and grey fi see di youth dem mek it inna life. I want to live to see the lawyers, doctors, engineers, and mechanics make it in life and make something good of themselves. Then I would know that I would have played my part in making Jamaica a better place."

Effortville Primary School lauded James as its greatest motivation as he plays an active role in the life of 15 students he has attending the school.

- S. S.