RETIRED principal of the Manchester-based Mandeville Primary and Junior High School, Byron Farquharson, was recently honoured for his 44 years of service to education.

At an appreciation function held at the Kendal Conference Centre in Manchester, Farquharson was lauded for his work to transform the former Mandeville All-Age to its current status of being a choice school where parents queue to enrol their children.

Representatives from the civic groups, the

school, Ministry of Education, Jamaica Teachers’ Association and the Caribbean Union of Teachers — two organisations where Farquharson served as president — were among persons in attendance at the ceremony.

Leading the tributes, Custos of Manchester Sally Porteous said education is a vehicle against social ills, and for prosperity, and that Farquharson’s 44 years “were spent for the betterment of our young people and for that, we are truly grateful

to him.

“It is he who has dedicated his life to ensuring that our young people learn all of these things (values of education), so that they can become the Jamaicans that we can all be proud of. You can look back and be proud of the role that you played in shaping the lives of so many,” the custos said.

Education Minister Ronald Thwaites said the event was one for rejoicing, and the evening’s activities were about “saluting the life dedicated to the upliftment of our children.

“He devoted himself to the most important task that any human person can perform — the upliftment of the human spirit — and that is cause enough for rejoicing,” the minister added.

Minister of National Security Peter Bunting, the member of parliament for Central Manchester, also lauded the work of the educator.

“We need genuine heroes, particularly male heroes that we can hold up to our young men. The support that Farquharson gave me, particularly in restarting the Central Manchester Principal Association, and the capable leadership he gave to that before he retired, is commendable,” Bunting said.

Chairman of the school board Dr Lloyd Quarrie described the retired principal as a transformational and visionary leader, “who created and secured partnerships with all stakeholders to ensure the successes he achieved.

“Those under his direct influence he inspired and motivated to give of their best at all times. His fundamental objectives were to create a symbiotic teaching/learning environment, to improve and expand the experience of all teachers and students of this school, and to facilitate the development of their God given talents to maximise their potential,” the school board chairman said.

In his response, Farquharson thanked all the teachers who worked with him to make the institution a sought-after school, and noted that parents played a big role in the turnaround of the institution.

“We had a common vision, we shared the team approach and we were able to receive the full support of parents, school board, Ministry of Education, and other critical stakeholders,” he said.

— JIS