Dear Editor,

Your editorial of July 3 refers.

I accept responsibility for the awkward release of government's decision to refresh the membership of the Teachers Services Commission and apologise to the members of the outgoing commission for the manner in which the decision became known to them.

The chairman and members of the commission did not offer their resignation upon the change of administration. The TSC continued its important work of appointing school principals.

I came to the view that it would be best to review the membership of the TSC to include some new talent and to allow institutions like the churches and the JTA to nominate fresh representatives. In coming to this decision, I did bear in mind the unfortunate circumstances which hobbled the Teachers Services Commission's work last year, which has affected confidence in the commission.

As is the procedure, a new slate of members was approved by Cabinet in June. The next step should have been to thank the outgoing commissioners for their services and thereafter gazette the new appointments. Unfortunately, the new commission was announced on the government's website before the process took place.

At the time of speaking with the press, I was not aware that the outgoing Teachers Service Commission had completed its agenda, some of which, because of previously mentioned circumstances, had been long unattended.

Ronald Thwaites

Minister of Education

Kingston 4