Starting their journey from the grounds of the Basseterre High School, scores of teachers from, pre-schools, primary schools and high schools, joined together in solidarity, accompanied by hi-fi music as they circled the downtown commercial district of the island’s capital.
Sporting placards with various messages and dressed in their Teachers Day t-shirts, the men and women responsible for molding the minds of the nation’s youth, made their annual peaceful pilgrimage that ended at the historic Independence Square, where a rally was held, featuring speeches from top executives of the St. Kitts teachers Union. Their overall message was “Let us all from this day forward, ‘TAKE A STAND FOR TEACHERS!”
As one official of the union stated in a release on Friday, “Today we celebrate a noble and resilient people. They are a people passionate about and committed to building our nation’s intellectual wealth. Today, we celebrate TEACHERS!” 
Teachers are the single most powerful professionals globally. When one considers the work of our teachers, one would recognize and appreciate that these noble leaders are the most important factors when determining the quality of the education that our children receive, the quality of life those children have, the potential of living and ultimately the educational quality of our nation.
Teaching is one of, if not the most complicated jobs today. It demands broad knowledge of subject matter, curriculum and standards; enthusiasm, creative and critical thinking, strategic planning, a caring attitude, a love for imparting knowledge, personal and professional development, knowledge of discipline and classroom management techniques; and a desire to make a positive difference in the lives of young people.
Amidst the many challenges that teachers face, they are a resilient people who continue to recommit themselves year after year to the educating of young minds.
Although their physical working conditions are very far from the best and over the years teachers have had to passionately agitate (with some success met)for: clean functioning bathrooms, sufficient classroom furniture for themselves and students, healthier working environments, functional and better equipped computer labs, better physically secured premises, repairing of dilapidated buildings, equipped Home Management centers etc. teachers are still poised and ready to face these challenges head-on because they are cognizant of the fact that what they do is of paramount importance for the continued development of our people.
Despite their very long, yet hopeful wait, for the implementation of the Teachers’ Career Path, which promises to implement a broad, systematic and ongoing scheme for the assessment, monitoring and evaluation of teachers, and which also outlines a fair and transparent route to educational leadership and allows all educators equal and un-bias opportunities to apply for and serve in leadership capacities within the educational sector; they remain committed to serving our people.
