Lynton Weir is Lasco Principal of the Year

Immaculate Conception High School science teacher Bahagya Malladi won the Lasco Teacher of the Year award.

Weir, an agricultural science teacher, moved up the ranks of his alma mater to become principal in 2009. Since then Weir, not without opposition, has managed to lead Old Harbour High on a path of transformation.

The 50-year-old institution is arguably one of the most financially sustainable schools on the island, boasting several modern amenities that foster improved learning. Recently some seven Old Harbour High students were ranked nationally in the top-10 performers in various subject areas in the 2018/19 CSEC and CAPE exams.

President of the Mico University Dr Asburn Pinnock, in a very thoughtful keynote presentation in which he uses Peter Tosh’s Can’t Blame Di Yutes, called on teachers to become more creative to produce better students for the world of work.

Opposition spokesman on education, Peter Bunting, who congratulated the awardees, said as a nation "we have to elevate the profession of teachers”.

Bunting said: “It must be a profession of choice and we have to compensate teachers, and we have to give them the tools to be amongst the premier professions; because literally there is nothing more important in terms of the future growth and development of Jamaica than the education system.”

Many past and current students, retired teachers were among the numerous well-wishers who took to social media to convey heartfelt congratulations to Weir, who amassed more than 1,000 votes – some 300 more than his closest rival, even though voting was not used by the organisers to determine the winners.