Back to school: Education Minister offers words of encouragement to students for new term

As schools reopen Monday across the nation, Minister of Education Sonia Parang delivered a message of encouragement in a video message posted Sunday on the ministry’s Facebook page, where she welcomed students, teachers and parents into the second term of the 2025–2026 academic year.
Speaking ahead of the start of the Easter term, the Minister extended New Year greetings to families and urged all students to refocus their minds so that they are active for the new term. Special emphasis was placed on the students who will be sitting the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) and the Caribbean Secondary Examinations Council (CSEC) Examinations.

Minister Parang noted that this upcoming term is especially important for these exam students as they will sit their final mock examinations followed by their final examinations. Students were encouraged to remain committed, to focus and to have the motivation needed to succeed.
“These two terms will be extremely important for you all. Focus is necessary, and drive and motivation are necessary; ensuring that you put in the effort to make it in this final lap is so important.”
Other students, including those returning to nursery and primary school, were also encouraged to embrace the new term, enjoy learning, build friendships and have fun. The official emphasised that education remains the key to success and thus urged students to attend school regularly and to put their best foot forward.
Teachers were praised for their vital role in shaping the minds of the nation’s future and were called on to enter the term with enthusiasm and dedication.
“To our teachers, I encourage you to head out there with all the zest and zeal that you possibly can for the new term, because you are the shapers of our great minds, which are our children, the future of our country.”
The Minister also acknowledged the dedication and sacrifices parents make to support the educational journey of their children. From daily preparations for school to ensuring they are fully equipped to experience an engaging day of learning. She noted that parents’ involvement in their children’s education plays a crucial role in students’ development.
Minister Parang concluded by wishing all students, teachers and parents a successful Easter term and announced plans to visit schools on Monday.