Dear Editor,

Why do the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Education think it’s okay for new teachers to work for three to six months without their correct salary, and in some cases nothing at all?

Teaching is a rewarding career, and many teachers find solace in the fact that they are providing their students with the tools they need to succeed. Nonetheless, it is still very demanding and draining. Teachers face pressure from students, parents, heads of department, supervisors, school administrators, and the Ministry of Education. They are expected to create and execute lesson plans; create and grade assignments; maintain records (both as form teachers and subject teachers); serve as club advisors; and take on any other task assigned to them by their principals.

So much is expected of teachers, but so little is given in remuneration. Imagine having so many duties and at the end of the month you have no salary to get.

Last term, while sitting in the staff room, I listened to a colleague express how difficult it is for her to survive on the pre-trained salary the school gives her while they wait on the ministry to determine the scale at which she should be paid. It became too much and she resigned at the start of the new term.

This is the plight of many young teachers, who, after three to four years of tertiary education, have to settle for little or nothing in a profession that demands a lot. The public education system is already dealing with a teacher migration crisis and teachers will only continue to leave if the issue of salary isn’t resolved. While pay is only one of several factors influencing employee engagement, it plays a key role in the equation.

If teachers have to work without their correct salaries, they’re less likely to exert the effort to make an impact or do their best work. Additionally, it will add to the already high number of teachers leaving the classroom. Employees who earn less than their worth usually have one foot out the door and are actively seeking better opportunities.

Enough is enough, and it is time both the Jamaica Teachers’ Association and the Ministry of Education address this issue with a sense of urgency.

T Kafash Thomas

teddensetkt@gmail.com