ST JAMES, Jamaica — Pioneer students of Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College in Montego Bay, St James are moving to strengthen their bond with the college and play a meaningful part in its development.

A release on Friday revealed that recently, a group of some 40 students who entered the college as pioneers with Dr Simon Clarke as principal, spent the day on the Granville campus engaging with current principal, Ricardo Bennett, vice principal Robert Edwards and other faculty members. Discussions surrounded issues facing the college and plans for its future. They also toured the campus while recalling their time spent there and the lecturers who impacted their lives.

In a presentation to the pioneers, Bennett spoke of the value of “being united for the cause”. He also underscored that Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College at 48 years old, is “a brand name college, and we could never allow that brand to die.”

Bennett said in his remarks that contrary to some unfortunate statements made in the past that the profession was dying, data available opposes that statement. A detailed analysis of the tertiary education landscape in Jamaica revealed that teacher education was growing, he said.

According to Bennett, more post-secondary institutions were attempting to enter the teacher training industry due to the rising demand for qualified teachers locally and internationally.

“Teacher education is not for every institution and must be left to the teachers’ colleges that have demonstrated their worth over the years. The training of teachers requires educators who are knowledgeable, experienced, and committed, given the uniqueness of the profession,” Bennett posited.