Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) has tasks for new Government

Published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Wednesday | August 15, 2007

Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

The Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) wants the new government to allow senior teachers who transfer to other schools to retain their status.

It also wants newly retired teachers to start receiving pension three months after retirement as opposed to three to four years after.

The People's National Party and the Jamaica Labour Party, which will be contesting the August 27 general election, have both put forward plans for education, which include the removal of the shift system, better benefits for students accessing students' loan, among other things.

But outgoing president of the 22,000-member-strong teacher union, Hopeton Henry, said other areas affecting teachers need to be addressed.

"The Ministry of Education ought to make a compromise position to ensure that the senior teachers don't lose their status after transferring," Mr. Henry said.

Speaking with The Gleaner yesterday, just under a week ahead of the JTA's annual conference, Mr. Henry said some senior teachers who buy houses far away from the school where they work and would like to transfer to a nearer school, are forced to continue to travel long distances because of the fear of losing their seniority status.

Extend protective clothing allowance

Currently, grade one teachers receive protective clothing allowance to purchase coats, among other things. Mr. Henry noted that the new government should also extend the protective clothing allowance to grade two teachers because they too are at risk of getting their clothes dirty by the children who they interact closely with each day.

As it relates to safety in schools, Mr. Henry also noted that metal detectors and surveillance cameras should be installed in schools located in volatile areas.

And he noted that there should be a secondary enhanced programme to bring upgraded high schools on par with traditional high schools by installing state-of-the art science and computer laboratories, among other things