Many teachers have exercised their power of choice and have decided to migrate from Jamaican shores to take up more lucrative jobs overseas.

How we view this decision will vary widely within the Jamaican populace. I suspect many people may never understand the reasons teachers leave Jamaica, land we love to offer their professional service and expertise in foreign lands. These are the people who, I suspect, believe that our teachers should reconsider this option and remain as nation-builders who selflessly give back to their country, offering selfless patriotic service.

This option may appear altruistic and loyal and the right thing to do, but who considers the welfare of our teachers, those who tirelessly and unselfishly gave back while residents of Jamaica? Who ensures the teachers’ welfare is met so that the opportunity to export their services abroad is not such a lucrative option?

I want to suggest that during these times of robust educational reform in Jamaica the welfare of our teachers has not received the same concerted effort as our aim to revise curriculum so that it is ‘STEMing’ and ‘STEAMing’ for our 21st-century Jamaican learners. Don’t get me wrong, these initiatives are laudable and good for the nation’s education system.

Year after year the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) negotiates with the Government for better compensation for teachers and the outcome is often a modest increase which falls far short of the cost-of-living inflationary increases that are common during these trying economic times. With bills to pay, family to care for, among other things, what is the teacher left to do in this economic climate?

Life is about choices and, as I reflect, it is my belief that teachers have, and now more than ever, recognised the opportunities that are available and their power to choose. They have done their research and deep reflection and now realise the benefits that can be gained by offering their service in another country.

It is sad to say, but it is a reality that the remuneration package and benefits available to teachers across the world is incomparable to that which exists in Jamaica. What is also discouraging is that several countries within the region offer their teachers a better remuneration package than that which exists in Jamaica.

In the Cayman Islands, for example, a person working as a teacher typically earns around KYD$28,800 per year. Salaries range from KYD$14,100 to KYD$45,000. When the typical amount of KYD$28,800 is converted to Jamaican currency, this is $5,299,122.87 per year, $441,593.57 per month.

A person working as a teacher in The Bahamas typically earns around BSD$37,300 per year. Salaries range from BSD$18,300 to BSD$58,100. When the typical amount of BSD$37,300 is converted to Jamaican currency, it amounts to $5,620,122.99 per year, $468,343.58 per month.

Let us not sugar-coat the issue, a primary cause of the massive migration of our teachers from Jamaica is a professional compensation package that is far from attractive. The present reality makes it difficult to live and achieve life goals and aspirations. The well-used adage that one should be satisfied with simply giving back to one’s country is no longer enough to convince teachers to remain here and build Jamaica.

This substantial migration of teachers that we are currently witnessing may be viewed as a strong message to the system. It is a refusal to remain in an environment where meaningful change for teachers is sluggish and ever so close to stagnant. The continuous negotiations for a fair and reasonable increase in teachers’ wages by the JTA is daunting proof that the real issue is not being addressed.

In light of the current situation, I offer the following for consideration. A significant and fair improvement in the remuneration package for our professionally trained teachers is needed if we want more of them to continue teaching our nation’s youngsters. The drop-in-the-bucket increase will only fuel the desire for more teachers to migrate.

In 2016, during the period of Government labour negotiations with teachers, Howard Isaacs, JTA president at the time, stated that, “We recognise that it is not possible for the Government to match the size in salary offered in those overseas markets. However, a concerted effort must be made to review the salaries and conditions of work for teachers.” Isaac’s statement admits that it is a challenge for Jamaica to match the overseas markets, but it also implies that more can be done to ensure that teachers are being offered the best deal possible.

If we genuinely believe that education is the answer to many of society’s ills, then more effort should be made to ensure that those who are key players in the arena of educational reform and transformation are content to stay home and offer their full expertise toward that change.

Finally, I believe that being in a position of always having to negotiate a fair wage may make teachers seem petty and further lower the public’s respect for the profession. It has been said that dollars aren’t the only thing that determines career choice; prestige and working conditions matter too. I want to suggest that the benefits, working conditions, in addition to a fair wage are what is necessary to brighten the prestige of the teaching profession so that teachers will stay put a ‘yawd’.

If the Government truly values teachers, then it needs to show them. Return to the drawing board and put together a decent professional work package for the nation’s teachers — a package inclusive of fair wages, housing solutions, better working conditions, increased resources, health benefits, and professional development opportunities.

If we seriously want a better Jamaica, a place of choice to live, work, raise families, and do business, then we must consider the current situation and the value we place on our teachers in relation to this strong and proud statement.

Nattalie McKenzie is a a senior lecturer at Shortwood Teachers’ College and a PhD candidate in educational leadership and management at University of Technology, Jamaica. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or nattsmckenzie@yahoo.com