Teachers and ancillary workers at Pembroke Hall Primary School, who have served the school for 10 or more years, were on Tuesday night honoured for staying the course and shaping the minds and characters of the students.

The staff members were honoured at the school's long service awards ceremony, held at the Hilton Kingston hotel in New Kingston.

"We are meeting here because high-quality service was rendered. The culture, ethics and ethos of Pembroke Hall Primary School are well set," Elaine Ralston, regional director of the Ministry of Education, told the gathering.

She added: "I want to salute you because not many persons would have stayed for the numbers of years listed here."

Ralston said the ministry was aware that it could not pay the teachers what they were really worth.

"I want to commend you for staying the course when others would have jumped ship and gone to the US to earn the all-mighty dollar," she said.

Firm believer

Ralston noted that she was a firm believer in the primary system, adding that she had ensured that her children went to primary school.

"If we are in the public system and we don't think that it is good enough for our children, then we should not be in it," she told the teachers.

The school was started 41 years ago with three teachers. Today, the institution has 1,158 students and 38 teachers.

'I want to commend you for staying the course when others would have jumped ship and gone to the US.'