Jamaica Teachers Association disappointed with Ministry of Education plan to recruit overseas teachers

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) president Leighton Johnson has expressed concern and disappointment over the Ministry of Education’s plans to recruit overseas teachers for the 2024/25 academic year, which begins in September.

Despite efforts to retain teaching talent, the allure of international teaching positions continues to attract educators, presenting an ongoing challenge for Jamaica’s education department, which is currently recruiting teachers from Nigeria, Ghana, the Philippines and India.

Johnson said in a statement on Wednesday that while the decision was intended to ease There is currently a nationwide teacher shortagewhich highlights an important issue that requires urgent action.

The JTA President noted that there are at least 10 institutions of higher learning in Jamaica dedicated to the noble profession of teacher training. He said that over the decades, those institutions have produced educators of the highest caliber who are capable of nurturing and developing young minds.

Johnson noted it was a sad day for the country that “we must once again rely on foreign teachers to fill positions that should be filled by our own qualified and capable educators.”

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“The exodus of teachers from Jamaica is not a new phenomenon, but its recent intensification is a clear sign of deeper systemic issues that need to be addressed. Our teachers are the backbone of our education system and their departure abroad in search of better opportunities underscores the urgent need for us to improve the wages, conditions and incentives of educators at home,” Johnson said.

Johnson said that while he appreciated the Department of Education’s efforts to ensure students do not suffer due to teacher shortages, such solutions are only temporary and do not address the systemic and root causes of the problem.

“We must commit to creating an environment where our teachers feel valued, supported and adequately compensated for their valuable contributions to society,” he said.

To help schools with the admissions process, the Ministry of Education has put in place various strategies weeks before the start of the school year.

The school has received pre-approval for early hiring decisions to hire part-time teachers, retired educators and final year trained graduates.

Schools were also reportedly advised to adopt a range of classroom management strategies, including combining smaller classes and increasing the use of information and communication technology.

Still, Johnson believes these measures are not enough. “Teachers’ salary structures must be competitive and aligned with international standards. Retention incentives are urgently needed to encourage teachers to stay in our classrooms. Again, this is in line with best practice and international trends,” Johnson said.

He added that the government must also seriously consider non-monetary incentives such as lower mortgage rates for teachers, tax relief on motor vehicle purchases, land gifts and student loan debt relief for teachers and their children as viable incentives to retain teachers.