Good education

IHAVE always been a strong proponent the benefits of a good education. I use every opportunity to remind young people that an education is the best gift we can give ourselves. If we are to lead, inspire, and transform our society, the foundation of an excellent education must form the bedrock of all we do, otherwise we all labour in vain.

With that in mind, I must commend Hillel Academy for 50 years of outstanding contribution to moulding young minds that have not only gone on to positively impact and shape the fabric of our nation, but have also achieved global reach represented by the distinguished cohorts of both local and international alumni.

Hillel embodies all the positive attributes of Brand Jamaica. The academy remains among the most coveted and sought after of learning institutions in Jamaica, so much so that even parents of the unborn vie to ensure a space for their most precious progeny. This signals a deep-rooted trust in the academy – that parents are willing to bet on, and partner with, Hillel to deliver the very best guarantee of a bright future for their children.

As leaders, parents, and adults, we hold Jamaica in trust for our young people. We should commit to ensuring that the country we deliver to the next generation is always better than the one we inherited and inhabit. We must ensure that the values of commitment to excellence and aspiration for greatness are preserved in the services we deliver and passed on as the only path to prosperity. Hillel is a standard-bearer in this regard.

Half-a-century not out! Here’s to boundary-less possibilities in the centuries ahead. ALANDO TERRELONGE

State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information