NEGRIL, Hanover — Five months after teachers began receiving new wages hammered out as part of the Government’s civil servant compensation review, some are still unclear how much they are being paid monthly, according to Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) president, Leighton Johnson. Pointing to variations in income tax deductions, he has demanded answers.

“In several instances, it appears on the pay advice that the teachers’ gross taxable amount exceeds their gross earnings! How is this simpler when every month since March teachers who get a set amount for salary experience fluctuation in the amount of money deducted for taxes? We are tired and frustrated and need answers now,” he said.

Johnson, who took over from La Sonja Harrison was speaking during his investiture ceremony on the first of a three-day JTA 59th annual conference in Negril on Monday. It is being held at the Royalton Negril Resort in Hanover.

He argued that the issues being faced by his members is in stark contrast to assurances from Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr Nigel Clarke that one of the Government’s chief objectives of reviewing and modernising compensation was to simplify the process for everyone. The revamping included reducing more than 30 scales down to 16, and rolling of all allowances into salaries.

During his wide-ranging address, Johnson also expressed concern that little progress has been made in applying graduate allowance to the salaries of teachers as was agreed in the memorandum of understanding. On the general issue of compensation, the JTA president suggested that there are lessons the local education ministry can take from Germany.

“PS (Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Youth, Maureen Dwyer), Jamaica is known to copy many principles, strategies and initiatives from other jurisdictions. Angela Merkel the former Chancellor of Germany is quoted as saying, ‘Teaching is the hardest career because it creates all other careers; therefore, teachers must be paid well, teachers must be taken care of.’ Teachers in Germany are the second highest paid teachers in the world. PS, we wait with bated breath for this principle to be modelled. I assure you this concept is definitely worth a copy,” stated Johnson.

Arguing that inadequate compensation is the primary reason for the teacher migration which has led to a chronic shortage of teachers in the technical fields, he spoke of the need to pay educators well.

“While we understand that a small developing state cannot match the salaries being paid in those realms, it is imperative that a deliberate and intentional attempt be made to adequately compensate our teachers so that we can retain the experienced and qualified ones,” he said.

He endorsed the often-touted suggestion that Jamaica should explore training teachers for the export market and spoke of the need to maximize the country’s teachers’ colleges.

“We must improve our approach in marketing the teaching profession as an attractive, viable and noble option to the youth of our nation. I suggest that we launch a national campaign to throng the teachers’ colleges, many of which are undersubscribed,” stated Johnson who noted Jamaica’s status as the only Caribbean country that has more than 10 institutions that focus primarily on teacher training.

Turing his attention to wider issues, the JTA president called on the government to allow teachers to play a greater role at the strategic level.

“PS, we appreciate the establishment of the Taskforce Implementation Oversight Committee but here is the challenge. Teachers should be at the forefront of crafting strategies and informing policies to drive the improvements needed in our sector. Teachers are the technical practitioners and need to be consulted on matters pertaining to educational reform,” stated Johnson.

He asked PS Dwyer to deliver a message to Minister of Education Fayval Williams.

“I am proposing that the teachers of Jamaica become your chief advisors when designing the strategies for improvement. Please take that home to aunty Fayval. I am proposing that a significant feature of the ministry be that of the establishment of think tanks composed of teachers from every level within our sector, to be engaged in policy review and strategy development. Our teachers are experts in various disciplines, therefore consult with us and use the resources that are available,” urged Johnson.

“I can also guarantee that our consultancy fees will be significantly less than what others are charging,” he added.

The JTA president was referring to the Reform of Education Reports.

In 2019, a study was commissioned and in 2021 the highly anticipated Taskforce on Education Reform (the Patterson Report) was released. However, the report revealed many of the same issues that were highlighted in the Rae Davis Report of 2004.