‘Our teachers have currency worldwide’
Anderson urges ministry to address educator retention crisis
Published:Tuesday | November 5, 2024 | 12:10 AMSashana Small/Staff Reporter
Dr Garth Anderson, dean of the Teachers’ Colleges of Jamaica (TCJ), wants a comprehensive plan from the Ministry of Education as to how it will retain the more than 700 trained teachers who recently graduated from the nine teachers’ colleges and universities across the island.
Speaking at the commencement ceremony held at The University of the West Indies, Mona, on Sunday, Anderson lauded the expertise gained by these teachers, which he said makes them highly sought after by overseas entities.
“Our teachers have currency across the world. That is why recruiters are coming for them in their final year - there must be something that we are doing good - our students excel wherever they go in the global village,” he said.
Teacher migration has been a perennial issue affecting Jamaica’s education system, with various stakeholders suggesting strategies to curb it.
However, recent data from the Ministry of Education has presented a downward trend in the number of teachers leaving the classroom.
In May to August of 2022, 852 teachers resigned. Four hundred and eighty-nine teachers resigned in 2023 over that same period. So far this year, over that same period, 135 teachers have resigned.
However, Anderson challenged the graduates to “fight to save the soul of the teaching profession from those who seek to downgrade us”, declaring that the occupation is one that operates on established principles.
“It can’t be ‘anything goes’, that would be a recipe for disaster. I urge you graduates to resist the temptations and hold fast to what you have been taught as the curators of a wholesome society,” he said.
MORE DEMANDING
At the same time, he noted that the teaching profession has become more demanding, and will require the new teachers to do more than just inspire students, but they will also need to nurture their curiosity and help them to navigate the complexities of life.
“Education is a powerful tool for change, it can transform lives, and communities, embrace this opportunity with passion,” he said.
Extolling the vital role that teachers play in shaping society, Minister of Education Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon urged the graduates to continue their professional development to keep pace with innovation and technological advancements in the field.
“In your new roles, you’ll find that technology is not just an accessory, but a powerful ally in your mission to educate and inspire,” she said. “I want you to embrace the tools because they can help you to reach your students, they can help you to be creative and innovative.”
Teacher training institutions, she noted, also have an important role to prepare their students to thrive in a diverse and complex world.
“We need to build a strong talent community with complementary skill sets in research, teaching, and leadership,” she said.
Morris Dixon, who was recently appointed education minister, also committed to continue to work closely with teachers’ colleges and universities.
“I want each institution to know that the ministry is your partner and together we will figure it out. We will have to make the necessary adjustments to prepare the next generation of educators,” she said.