Christmas Message

MESSAGE OF THE JTA PRESIDENT 

My dear colleagues,

As we pause to celebrate the joy and promise of the Christmas season, we do so this year with hearts that are both heavy and hopeful. Heavy, because 2025 has tested us in ways few of us could have imagined; hopeful, because even in the face of devastation, the spirit of teachers has remained unbroken.

Hurricane Melissa left deep scars across our nation and across our education system. Many of our schools were damaged, many of our communities disrupted, and far too many of our teachers experienced loss—of homes, of belongings, of a sense of normalcy. Yet, in the midst of that devastation, teachers once again demonstrated extraordinary courage and selflessness. Even while grappling with personal hardship, you showed up for your students, your colleagues, and your communities. That is no small thing, and it must be acknowledged with deep respect and gratitude.

Christmas reminds us that light often enters the world in the darkest of times. It teaches us that hope is not the absence of struggle, but the courage to persevere despite it. In this season, we give thanks—not because the journey has been easy, but because we have endured. We give thanks for life, for health, for community, and for the quiet strength that has carried us through weeks of uncertainty and rebuilding.

I am profoundly grateful for the resilience of Jamaica’s teachers. Grateful for those who opened classrooms even when conditions were less than ideal. Grateful for those who comforted students who were themselves displaced and traumatized. Grateful for those who leaned on faith, compassion, and professionalism when the burden felt overwhelming. Your work this year has gone far beyond instruction; it has been an act of service, healing, and nation-building.

As President of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association, I want to assure you that your struggles have not gone unnoticed. The JTA has stood, and will continue to stand, in advocacy and action—mobilising support, providing relief, and pressing for the systemic responses that our members deserve. Christmas does not erase the challenges ahead, but it strengthens our resolve to face them together.

This season also calls us to gratitude. Gratitude for colleagues who supported one another, for communities that rallied, for partners at home and abroad who extended a helping hand. Gratitude for the gift of purpose—the calling to teach, to shape lives, and to give hope to the next generation, even when our own spirits are tested.

As you gather with family, friends, or quiet reflection, I encourage you to rest. Take this time to renew your strength, to heal, and to hold on to the promise that better days are ahead. The story of Christmas is one of restoration, and I firmly believe that restoration will come—for our schools, our communities, and our nation.

On behalf of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association, I extend warm Christmas greetings to you and your loved ones. May this season bring you peace, comfort, and renewed hope. May the New Year find us stronger, united, and more determined than ever to rise, rebuild, and serve.

Merry Christmas, colleagues—and thank you for being the heart of Jamaica’s education system.

Mr. Mark  Malabver

President

Jamaica Teachers’ Association

2025-2026