Migration is part and parcel of the Jamaican experience dating back to just a few decades after chattel slavery ended here, and in other British colonies, in the 1830s.

In fact, remittances have been a cornerstone of the Jamaican economy for well in excess of 100 years.

To begin with, those leaving were mostly labourers for the banana, sugar, coffee plantations of Central America and Cuba. Also, there was that massive, engineering enterprise, the Panama Canal, at the turn of the 20th century to which workers — immortalised in the folk song Colon Man A Come — from Jamaica and the wider Caribbean were absolutely essential.

Descendants of those people cling to their Jamaican culture and language in sections of Central America to this day — though links with the homeland of their ancestors have waned.

Today, Jamaicans are much more aware of more recent mass migration to Britain and North America.

Increasingly, it seems, those leaving are educated, trained professionals such as our teachers, nurses, doctors, and police personnel.

In truth, the current uproar involving the migration of hundreds of teachers leaving schools scrambling to fill vacancies is not new.

Hope that the Government’s compensation review package would have made a significant difference in teacher migration for the start of the new school year, which begins on Monday, have largely evaporated.

Anecdotal reports suggest that far too many teachers, including some among those who have chosen to remain and may have no plans to leave, are now even less motivated than previously.

This is largely the result of perceived inequities and anomalies in salary scales that apparently have not been addressed, despite sustained complaints.

It would appear that the clumsy implementation of the massive salary increase for elected politicians — without, in our view, efficient prior communication and/or public education — has made the situation worse.

This newspaper agreed in principle that increases for the elect of the people bringing their remuneration closer to market realities were long overdue.

Sadly, cynicism among teachers, other public sector workers, and across the society, appear to have risen to a marked degree as a result of what’s been portrayed as politicians rewarding themselves without thought for others.

What’s to be done? We like the idea aired in some quarters that there needs to be frank, open discussion involving all parties about how best to ensure our public servants are comfortable without feeling they must leave in order to support themselves and their families at an acceptable level.

Beyond all that, we are appalled at news reports that some teachers are resigning their jobs with notice time amounting to mere weeks and days, leaving school leaders scrambling to find replacements to avoid chaos at their institutions come next week.

We hear that such actions are in clear breach of regulations and the contractual arrangements to which teachers had agreed.

Also, it seems to us, such teachers have betrayed others in their profession who must uphold high moral standards to command the respect of their students, parents, the community at large, and the nation as a whole.

Those who have left their jobs with little or no notice have done great disservice to themselves and this country.