Give teachers better pay to stay, Maluleke urges Gov’t
Published:Tuesday | August 20, 2024 | 12:10 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Dr Mugwena Maluleke, the president of Education International, says the working conditions of Jamaican teachers and their salaries must be improved to prevent the worsening problem of teachers migrating for better-paying jobs overseas.
Addressing Monday’s opening session of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association’s (JTA) 60th annual conference at the Ocean Coral Spring Hotel in Trelawny, Maluleke said the recommendation is based on observations which have been made by the United Nations’ (UN) high-level panel with regard to teachers.
“As Education International, we stand with you in addressing these challenges, and we will provide toolkits [which] will assist you with a multifaceted approach, including improving teacher salaries, working conditions, investing in teacher training, and exploring innovative solutions. We also have developed toolkits to help the lobbying for the implementation of the recommendation from the UN secretary-general’s high-level panel on the teaching profession,” said Maluleke.
“The improvement of working conditions is very key, because the panel has emphasised the need for decent working conditions and competitive wages for our teachers. We believe that this will help to attract and retain the teachers in the profession,” Maluleke added. “We believe if you continue with your teachers’ professional development as part of the recommendation of the UN’s high panel, you will be able to address some of the problems of demands and supply in the country. This will enhance teacher satisfaction and effectiveness in reducing turnover rates.”
In recent years, Jamaica has had to grapple with the issue of teacher migration, which included the departure of 854 educators from the classroom over an eight-month period up to August 30, 2023. Before that, 1,538 teachers left the profession between January and September 2022.
In 2023, concerns were raised that if the issue of teacher migration is not resolved, more of Jamaica’s teachers could end up leaving the sector by 2026.
Maluleke noted that teacher autonomy and integration of technology are also critical to keeping educators in the profession locally.
“We believe that teacher autonomy and the voice that is being given to the teachers is very important for our profession, and therefore in decision-making. If you can implement the rest of the recommendations, we believe it will bring that desire of our young people to join the teaching profession. We will be respecting their professional autonomy to lead and to be able to judge for themselves how they teach,” said Maluleke.
“The recommendation also suggests innovative use of technology where you take the lead, and I have already said that it can help Jamaica to address the particular challenges that we are facing in the world. We need to elevate this profession; we need to make it a profession and a career of choice, so that our students and our children can really build our countries,” Maluleke added.
In the meantime, outgoing JTA President Leighton Johnson urged the association’s delegates to be unified in upholding the teaching profession.
“Unity has been our greatest asset, and it must remain our guiding principle. Together, we have the power to influence change,” said Johnson.