THE Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) will decide this week whether it will accept the Government’s wage offer at the association’s annual conference.

The conference, which starts today, will see the association’s delegates discussing issues within the education sector.

“We probably will discuss the JTC (Jamaica Teaching Council) bill; we will discuss the ongoing process of voluntary relocation of teachers; teachers might again bring up the issue of the closing of small schools; we are going to look at our audited financial statements; we’re going to also look at where we are with the salary negotiations,” said JTA president Doran Dixon.

He said the JTA is awaiting a formal document from the Ministry of Finance on the items discussed at last Thursday’s meeting with Horace Dalley, minister with responsibility for the public service.

“We’re waiting on a formal response from the ministry in terms of what we had put on the table at the last meeting,” Dixon said with regards to the recent salary negotiations with the Government.

Government officials and representatives of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions signed a new two year wage agreement last week after a five year wage freeze. Under the new agreement, public sector employees are to receive a seven per cent increase over two years. The workers are also to be paid a $4,000 across-the-board increase each month. There are also increases in allowances and other items.

This offer has not been agreed to by public school teachers, doctors, nurses, air traffic controllers, and the police.

The JTA conference will continue through to August 19 at the Hilton, Rose Hall.