The head of the teachers’ union yesterday expressed shock at the sacking of Education Minister Ruel Reid, but said the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) would not cast any judgement on the matter until all the facts are presented.

“Certainly, for us it is surprising and depressing. It was certainly not a development we were anticipating,” JTA President Garth Anderson told the Jamaica Observer. “However, we have to continue doing what we do best, and that is to monitor what is happening in education in order to ensure that we keep the best interest of education at the forefront.

“We are monitoring what is taking place at the Ministry of Education, and we feel it is such an important ministry that we cannot afford to have any alleged mismanagement taking place, and we hope that the matter will be resolved quite quickly,” he said.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday revealed that he had asked Reid to resign amidst allegations of corruption at the education ministry and one of its agencies.

Holness also announced that his office would temporarily oversee the operations of the education ministry.

In response, Anderson said he was awaiting further information on that decision.

“The JTA expects that the civil servants will continue the business of education, and we hope that the fact that the Ministry of Education is now under the portfolio of the prime minister will be short-lived, and very soon a minister of education will be named so that the business of education can continue,” Anderson said.

He also thanked Reid for his contribution to education and said the JTA “would like to wish him the very best in his future endeavours”.

Reid also resigned from the Senate.

— Shanae Stewart