Governor-General Professor Kenneth Hall (left) and his wife, Rheima Holding-Hall (second left) pose with the recipients of the Jamaica Teachers Association's Roll of Honour Award. With them are awardees Custos Alfred Farquharson (third left) and Sherlock Allen (third right), principal of Mavis Bank High School), while Warren McDonald (second right), regional managing director of Berger Paints Jamaica Limited and, JTA President, Hopeton Henry, join in. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Two past students of the Mico University College have received the Roll of Honour Award, the highest presented by the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA).

Sherlock Allen, principal of Mavis Bank High School, in St. Andrew and Alfred Farquharson, Custos of St. Elizabeth, were conferred with the honour, Wednesday night, for their unorthodox teachings that are said to have revolutionised institutions where they served. The ceremony was held at the Hilton Kingston hotel, in New Kingston.

An advocate for teachers' rights, Mr. Allen was remembered for his success in receiving reclassification for teachers by organising a record three strikes when he served as president of the JTA between 1994-1995.

Entrepreneurial skills

He was also recognised for entrepreneurial skills he taught students when he redesigned the core curriculum to complement practical-based courses at the Mavis Bank Secondary Vocational School.

Custos Farquharson was honoured for his many contributions to various communities where he served, especially the emphasis he placed on skills training, including farming.

Among his achievements is the award he received for drama, in recognition of the prize-winning plays he authored for the drama club of the Lacovia Secondary School, in St. Elizabeth.

Speaking at the ceremony, Governor-General Professor Kenneth Hall congratulated the awardees on their achievements.

"Few professions deserve higher commendation and recognition for their contribution to the political, the economic, the social, and the religious development of modern Jamaica than our teachers," Professor Hall said.

He added that "nothing can be considered more important in today's Jamaica than the teachers' willingness to grasp the significance of their role ... in preparing ourselves to participate in this new competitive advantage paradigm, a paradigm, which focuses on the acquisition of competencies and the development of knowledge by our people."

For his part, Warren McDonald, regional managing director of Berger Paints Jamaica Limited, said that despite the many challenges that face teachers in the classroom, focus should be placed on honesty, dependability, accountability, responsibility and transparency to shape the nation's youth.

Referring to the awardees, he said, "They have steered thousands of young Jamaicans in the right direction and they have blazed a path of excellence that is truly worthy of emulation."