ROSE HALL, St James — President of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) Winston Smith is again warning that the Government’s failure to pump much-needed resources into the country’s educational system will have dire consequences in the long run.

Smith likened the issue to the neglect of the West Indies Cricket team over the years, which has resulted in it being regularly trounced by other teams.

“If the powers that be leave education the way it is, then we will only be able to recruit teachers from Haiti because nobody from anywhere else would want to come and work with the salary that the Jamaican teachers receive,” warned Smith.

“For sustainable development in any country, we must advance education and spare no amount of funds for its development and sustainability or else as a country we will collapse,” Smith added.

The JTA head was addressing the more than 24,000 member-strong union’s Annual Helen Stills Professional Day activity held at the Holiday Inn Resort in St James on Thursday. This year’s event theme was “Embracing self-care for sustainable health and wellness”. The annual event is dedicated to the memory of Helen Stills who recognised that teachers are the pillars of the educational system.

In his address, Smith urged JTA members to speak up for themselves and not yield the space to others who have no idea of the challenges teachers face.

“One of the most striking things is that persons who have absolutely no idea what it means to be a teacher seem to be the ones who are leading the argument about what ought to be done and what should not be done,” he said.

“I believe that it is time, as educators, we rise up and stand in our rightful position and declare that as long as we are the vanguard of this noble profession, this institution that continues to give even when others are taking, we defend and protect every ounce of what we have and what we are seeking to do. Because we are the only professionals who genuinely give of ourselves and care,” he added.

Smith, who is principal of Golden Spring Primary School in St Andrew, argued that some hold the view that it is acceptable to pay teachers low wages because their love for the profession would make them reluctant to explore other opportunities.

“I commit to those who are of that view that no matter how much we love the profession, and yes, we do, if we are dead from starvation, then we won’t be able to lobby anymore,” argued the president of the 58-year-old union.

“We must say therefore, colleagues, to those who are in charge, that if we want… our children to see our teachers as role models and persons worthy of emulation, we must not only speak of the glorification of the cost of education but we must position our educators so that when we traverse the length and breadth of Jamaica we are seen as someone worthy of following,” he said.

In February, approximately 68 per cent of the JTA’s membership voted to accept the Government’s four per cent wage offer. As part of the deal, teachers will receive a book and software allowance of $40,000 per year.

On Thursday Smith hinted that while all is not well, he had done his part and he expects his successor, LaSonja Harrison who will take over during the JTA’s 57th Annual Conference in August, to continue the work.

“I know that you are here with your cups turned up and your heart and minds in tune. So, there are other things that I want to say but I am going to save them until I have announced to the cabin crew that it is time to disembark. But I want to put my team on notice that, like any good captain, when you are near the runway you make sure that you have announced to your cabin crew over the island to ensure that your passengers are secured because we are about to make our final descent. I must descend… and thereafter you will see her in more operations,” said Smith.

Harrison, the principal of St Faith’s Primary School in St Catherine, recently told the Jamaica Observer that she when she takes over the helm of the JTA she intends to partner with the private and public sectors to improve the island’s education system.

She said that she intends to empower teachers by lobbying the Government to provide “the kind of resources that we are in need of in order for us to carry out our duties effectively”.