Pay delay angers education inspectors

Inspectors contracted by the National Education Inspectorate (NEI) are bemoaning delayed compensation, a situation that has left them unwilling to re-engage with the quality-assurance watchdog.

The NEI’s mandate is to assess the standards attained by students at the primary and secondary level and to make recommendations to inform improvement in outcomes and quality of provisions, among other things.

Judith Evans was a mathematics consultant in the United Kingdom until she returned to Westmoreland, Jamaica, 14 years ago.

She began working with the NEI as an inspector in 2010, and then a team lead inspector by 2011.

Inspectors are paid $30,000 per job, while team leads earn $57,500.

“We have contracts for every job, which says we will be paid in three weeks’ time of our reports being sent in, and that never was the case,” she said, adding that she is usually paid two to three months after.

During the period, Evans stopped working on three occasions, as it was not feasible to continue while she was owed.

Evans has kept a detailed record of all the jobs done, payments received, and outstanding money.

She was last engaged in November 2019. To date, she is owed $290,000, which is not inclusive of travel reimbursements.

‘Deeply angry’

Evans noted that when the Government took responsibility for payment in 2016, following the end of the World Bank arrangement, wait times became longer.

“I am now deeply angry because I’ve worked really hard to improve the education outcome for children. It has hindered my progress personally. I’ve got things that I want to do, even things in my house and on my car,” she explained.

The mathematics consultant noted that her situation was not dire, as she has a passive income, but improvement needs to be made in the process if it is to be sustainable.

“There have been a lot of good inspectors who have left because they have not been paid,” Evans revealed.

Maureen Dwyer, chief executive officer and chief inspector of the NEI, did not respond to questions from The Gleaner.

A 68-year-old retired teacher who has been contracted to the NEI for eight years told The Gleaner that she has no intention of signing another contract.

“They take too long to pay. We buy gas and put in our cars, plus there is wear and tear, and, by the time they pay us back for the gas, the money doesn’t value anything,” lamented the teacher, who requested anonymity.

The retired teacher said that inspectors are treated as if they are offering voluntary service.

“The reason I can’t tell you offhand how much they owe me is because I stopped looking forward to the money. I just gave up hope on it. If I was supposed to depend on it, starvation would kill me,” said the St James woman.

Money sent to closed account

She shared that the NEI has been plagued by sluggish payment, and when queries are made, she has been dished a number of excuses.

About three months ago, she was notified by the Auditor General’s Department that money had been deposited in a bank account which she had closed a few years ago.

It turned out the payment was from the NEI for two inspections she had done.

She then called and provided the NEI with updated bank account details, but nothing has been forthcoming since.

An in-service educator, who asked not to be named for fear that her job may be jeopardised, expressed similar sentiments.

“We need our money because it’s very disheartening and we are disappointed and discouraged at this time,” she said, adding that she is owed “a lot of money”.

In-service educators often request time from work to conduct duties as school inspectors.

Another retired educator in her 60s was last paid about $30,000 by the NEI in March 2020, but a sum remains outstanding.

She was contracted as an NEI inspector in 2010 and the last inspection she was engaged in was well over a year ago.

“That payment that I got would’ve been outstanding from about 2019 or 2018, so I really can’t track the figure,” said the retiree.

Irrespective of the basis of employment, she said, there are certain standards that ought to be maintained.

“It cannot be reasonable for the Government to owe me as an employee for one year or eight months or two years. I don’t get a pay stub, so I don’t know what I am paid for when I am paid, and it’s the most difficult thing to communicate with someone from the office,” she stressed.

The retiree explained that though she is keen on making an impact in the education sector in her retirement, the circumstances are not encouraging.

judana.murphy@gleanerjm.com