The Ministry of Education, Human Resource Planning, Vocational Training and National Excellence has honoured a group of Dominica's longest-serving and most dedicated teachers at a national awards ceremony held in Roseau to mark World Teachers' Day.
The event, held under the theme «Teachers: Leading in Crisis, Reimagining the Future», recognised educators from primary and secondary schools across the island, including the Kalinago Territory and the eastern and southern districts. Awards were presented for long service, innovation in the classroom and outstanding contribution to student development.
In remarks delivered at the ceremony, the Minister of Education said teachers had carried the country's education system through a period of extraordinary disruption, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the passage of Hurricane Maria, and had done so with professionalism and patience.
«Our teachers are the backbone of this nation. They have taught through storms, through a pandemic, and through every challenge this country has faced, and they continue to show up for our children every single day», the Minister said. «Today we say thank you, not just with words but with recognition that lasts».
The Ministry also used the occasion to announce a series of professional development initiatives for the coming school year, including training in digital instruction, special needs education and curriculum reform. Officials said the programme is intended to strengthen classroom practice and improve outcomes for students at all levels.
Several awardees spoke of the rewards and difficulties of the profession, noting that many teachers travel long distances to reach rural schools and often use their own resources to prepare lessons. They called for continued investment in school infrastructure, teaching materials and support services.
World Teachers' Day is observed annually on 5 October, commemorating the adoption of the 1966 UNESCO/ILO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. In Dominica, the day is marked with school-based activities, church services and national recognition of educators who have given decades of service.
The ceremony was attended by officials from the Ministry of Education, representatives of the Dominica Teachers' Association, school principals and families of the awardees. Organisers said the event also served to highlight the role of teachers in national development and in preserving the country's cultural heritage.
The Ministry urged communities across Dominica to continue supporting teachers and to recognise their contribution beyond the annual observance. It said further details on the professional development programme would be released in the coming weeks.
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