Growth & Jobs | Without teachers, the future is uncertain 

Declaring that the nation’s progress hinges on the strength of its educators, head of JN Bank’s Youth Banking Unit and the bank’s private banking arm - JN Premier, Delories Jones, said “without teachers, the future is uncertain,” as the organisation marked Teachers’ Day 2026 with a series of recognition activities in schools across the country.

She made the statement at Dunrobin Primary, one of the schools visited by the organisation in the Corporate Area, where the principal and a programme coordinator were presented with tokens of appreciation last Wednesday.

Jones underscored the critical role educators play in shaping not only academic outcomes, but the broader development of students, noting that their influence extends far beyond the classroom.

“We want to acknowledge you in a big way, not just as teachers, but as the moulders of our country,” she said.

She added that this impact aligns closely with JN’s focus on nation-building through education and long-term financial empowerment.

“At JN, we are deeply committed to education and to the future of our children, not only from an academic standpoint, but from a holistic perspective. Through financial planning, our futures can be secured and, with that in mind, we also want to acknowledge the teachers who have worked with us through our many programmes, including the JN School Savers’ Programme, to ensure that students begin developing these habits early,” she shared.

Principal of Dunrobin Primary, Dr Sacheel Grant-Henry, welcomed the recognition from the bank, describing it as a meaningful gesture, especially given that principals are sometimes seen as having “graduated from the scope of the classroom”.

Dr Grant-Henry, who has been an educator for 18 years and a principal for 12 years, currently oversees some 52 members of staff. Reflecting on her own journey from classroom teacher to principal, she stressed that the profession remains important and demands commitment. 

“Teachers are the sustainers, the movers and the planners for life itself, because they influence the future,” she said, adding that “the profession still stands in its nobleness, a profession of choice and a profession to aspire towards. The pay may not be the high point of the profession, but it is still a wonderful profession to be a part of, especially if your interest lies in motivating and watching others move, grow and learn.”

Echoing the sentiment, principal of St Richards Primary, Maria Mutidjo, added that “the focus has to be on why it is you do what you do,” stressing that, despite the challenges, the profession continues to be rewarding. An alumna of St Richards Primary, Mutidjo has been principal for the institution for three years, supervising 28 teachers, but has been an educator for the last 22 years.

While also welcoming the recognition from JN, she quoted her former St Richard’s teacher Gloria Cunningham, who once said, “this is what we have been called to do, and the children help us to fulfill our purpose.” 

She added that “When you recognise the important role that teachers play in all our lives, being able to give a child the gift of an education is everything.”

At George Headley Primary, Principal,Aretha Willie also highlighted the importance of educators and providing them with sustained support, noting that the recognition from JN stood as an acknowledgment of the value of the teaching profession.

Willie, who is in her 13th year as principal and has been an educator for 36 years, previously served as a school coordinator for the JN School Savers’ Programme, which she said has also been helping to empower students with skills that can transform their futures.

“We have the best profession in the world,” she said. “Remember they called Christ ‘Teacher’, and I go off that premise. We are going to be judged harsher than any other profession because of the influence we have over the future generation,” she added.

Stacey-Ann Clayton, one of the 54 classroom teachers at George Headley Primary, was among the list of educators provided with tokens by the bank on Teachers’ Day. She described the moment as “overwhelming” noting that “these gestures help to motivate us”.

JN Bank’s series of recognition activities across the island on Teachers’ Day followed on engagements a day earlier with the bank and its sister company, JN Money, at select schools for Read Across Jamaica Day.

These initiatives all form part of activities celebrating Education Week 2026, being observed under the theme: ‘Reformation now: Rebuilding a Resilient education system buoyed by the eternal father and Unrelenting unionism’.

File name Dunrobin primary and JN youth arm