PCTT urges holistic preparation as new academic year begins

The Presbyterian Church of Trinidad and Tobago (PCTT) is calling on students, educators, parents, guardians and other stakeholders to ensure children are prepared not only academically, but also spiritually, mentally and emotionally, as the new academic year begins.

In a message marking the start of the 2026–2027 academic year, the Moderator of the PCTT said those responsible for children have a “sacred responsibility” to care for them, provide the necessary resources and prepare them for the challenges of their educational journey.

The Moderator said preparation for the school year should extend beyond ensuring students have the required books, materials and other tools.

“They are also required to be spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and psychologically prepared,” the message stated.

The church acknowledged that students may face challenges within the school environment and said children must be equipped to deal with those difficulties in ways that contribute to their development and the wider society.

The PCTT said the goal should be to nurture children into “strong, well-adjusted, loving, caring, and God-fearing individuals”.

It also warned that being inadequately prepared for a new school environment could contribute to the anxiety and frustration experienced by some children.

The Moderator used the start of the academic year to remind students of what the church described as their relationship with God.

The message said God knows each person by name and views them as His own, while offering guidance and support throughout their lives.

The PCTT encouraged students and those supporting them to approach the new academic year with this understanding, while seeking God’s guidance throughout the journey.

The church extended its blessings to students, educators, parents, guardians and other stakeholders as the academic year runs from September 2026 to July 2027.

The message concluded by highlighting what it described as two important pillars on which life should be built: a good education, which empowers individuals for life, and a strong, unshakeable Godly foundation.

The PCTT said both elements have a role to play in preparing young people to navigate their education and their lives beyond the classroom.