HEAD BURIED IN SAND

Declaring that Education Minister Fayval Williams’ head remains in the sand, Opposition Member of Parliament for St Andrew South Eastern Julian Robinson has said that it is time for the Government to step in and address the unfolding teacher-migration crisis.

Robinson noted that this is the number-one issue facing the country only two weeks before the start of the new school year.

The lawmaker said consultation in his constituency revealed that almost two dozen teachers have resigned from Campion College.

He said teachers of science, two English, one math, and another for Spanish from a second institution, which he did not name, have resigned and are set to leave the island for teaching jobs overseas.

“Now I want to say to the Government, ‘Take your head out of the sand. Stop behaving like nothing not going on. We have a crisis, and two weeks before school start, these principals cannot hire replacement teachers on time,” Robinson charged at his constituency conference Sunday evening.

Robinson said the education sector is facing nothing short of a crisis, noting that the only avenue for economic growth and for the goal of an inclusive, equitable society is through education.

“They are not taking entry-level teachers. They are taking teachers with master’s. They are taking the best ... ,” Robinson said of recruiters.

“We need to recognise that we have a crisis and put a plan in place,” he added.

Robinson said the students who will suffer the most are those from poor households.

“Jamaica has a problem. It is compounded because we are going through a public-sector salary compensation review which nobody knows anything about,” said Robinson.

He said teachers are not clear what their salaries will be after the process and are not willing to stick around under a cloud of uncertainty.

Robinson challenged Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke to consult with, and inform, “critical stakeholders” about the review process to limit further fallout.

The member of parliament said that while there are no easy solutions to fix the problem, Williams’ strategy to ignore it will not make it go away.

“The principals are telling you. They are seeing it in the numbers, and the numbers will continue to get worse,” said Robinson.