NPTAJ Child Month Message | Overcoming adversities with resilience

We celebrate our children under the Child Month theme – I S.O.A.R. – I Strive to Overcome Adversities with Resilience!

Yet, we start the month with a bitter taste. We are saddened, angry and in disbelief at the way this special month has started. The continued and merciless attacks on our innocent children despite the many calls from so many, is atrocious to say the least. We strongly condemn every single one of these incidents and urge all parents and well-thinking Jamaicans to do the same. Similarly with the attacks on our children, so too must increasingly rapid, new and more effective mechanisms be put in place to protect our children and counter any threats. We are people, after all – not animals. And they are OUR children – it is our duty to protect them.

Please pause for a minute of silence, in honour of our children who in recent times have been injured or have met their untimely passing. Our heartfelt condolences and support go out to all the families of the victims, and we pray that justice comes swiftly for the perpetrators.

Our children have been particularly challenged since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, and yet they continue to shine despite these many challenges, in keeping with the theme. So many are online ambassadors in the learning process, so many continue to excel in their academics, so many achieving or surpassing expectations, and so many transforming their classroom, co-curricular and sports activities into the virtual space in so many creative ways.

Globally, there are over 1.3 billion children and youth impacted by learning loss and other issues in education due to COVID-19. The pandemic has highlighted the many inequities in education – access to internet and devices being the main ones. The NPTAJ remains resolute in its mission to provide advocacy and all the support within its scope, to ensure we as a nation protect and provide for our children. We continue our drive to partner with entities and individuals to assist us in obtaining devices to fill the gap.

Thanks to all our principals, teachers, alumni, PTAs, neighbours, parents and friends, who still find ways to supply devices or get the lessons printed or written into our children’s books, many of these assignments being completed for delayed submission for grading where no online access resides. You have all helped our children, and we thank you. The inequalities in education are obvious, but our children are simply amazing!

Their resilience and fortitude are admirable! We continue to function in a new normal, a new paradigm, and we continue to adjust and pivot.

As parents and caregivers, we often encounter challenging times as we care for these our gems; but as a nation, we need to collaborate like in "olden days” to protect our children physically, mentally, virtually, and to safeguard their future. After all, it does “take a village to raise a child.” A recent study by a doctor shows the following are the four critical pillars to keep our children focused on the right path to becoming productive citizens: Food, Safety, Support (parent, family and community) and Education. This is our special appeal to all parents and caregivers to pay keen attention and be particularly vigilant when our children are home all day.

Home is a safe space – DO NOT abuse or neglect our children.

The NPTAJ believes that we all have a great responsibility to empower and train our children, not to allow difficult events to overcome them but to stand tall and resilient, and to continue moving forward to achieve their goals.

To our children - we believe in you as you are the future, and we pray that you will S.O.A.R. like an eagle and be the best version of yourself. We implore you to help us to protect you - be obedient to good instructions, speak about any injustices that you are aware of and ensure that you protect yourself to the best of your ability.

We know our children miss the physical contact they are used to enjoying at school with their friends. We sincerely pray that it will soon be safe enough for resumption of regular school in the months to come, so that our children can regain their rightful place in the education system. But we all have a role to play to ensure we achieve this.
This month, let us find creative ways to safely celebrate our children. As families, let us spend more quality time together: play ball, play games, have family cook-offs, and set aside time especially for our children to talk about life. Let us remove all negativity from around them, plant seeds of positivity, caring and happiness and nurture them. Show our children how much we love them. Inspire them, remove all their doubts and fears. Create/recreate that safe space for them.

The NPTAJ wishes for all our children a wonderful month of celebrations, in whatever way your family chooses.
Let us all inspire positivity in whatever we do.

Special thanks to the media and all our stakeholders for your support over the past years, and we look forward to the continued engagement as we work together to improve our education system.

We remain focused on the education of our children, and continue to encourage our parents to be involved - as our motto says, INVOLVED PARENTS = BETTER STUDENTS.