The pending teacher shortage is the most critical education issue we will face in the next decade. – David E Price, US representative for North Carolina’s 4th congressional district from 1997 to 2023

Like most things in the universe the academic year has a rhythm to follow. The hot, humid, and often contentious summer holidays went by quickly. The school plants have been dusted off as schools are once again open for the 2023/2024 academic year. The uniforms are all neatly ironed, khakis have been seamed, textbooks have been purchased, and, most importantly, the students and teachers are ready to take on the challenges for another academic year.

The 2023/2024 academic year already has a number of unknown quantities that have the propensity to derail the smooth opening and operating of schools. Most among them is the uncertainty regarding teacher availability in general.

Many teachers feel disrespected. We have all seen the vacancies in the newspapers as schools try to find staff to fill both temporary and clear vacancies. There was one school that had over 20 clear vacancies for both TVET (technical and vocational education and training) and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) teachers.

The results of the 2023 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) have been published and Jamaica is still struggling in the area of mathematics with only 43 per cent of students receiving a passing grade.

What is crystal clear is that specialist teachers in the TVET disciplines are not finding the classroom attractive and undoubtedly this will have implications for subjects such as electrical installation, plumbing, auto mechanics, carpentry and joinery, and cosmetology. The push factor for teachers leaving the classroom is the low remuneration and poor working conditions. On the other hand, the pull factors for teachers to migrate surrounds attractive salaries and a better standard of living.

Thinking outside the box

As we continue to count down the days before it is back-to-school it is critical that we think outside the proverbial box to see how best we can address the cracks within the education system. The fact is, there is a teacher shortage, especially in strategic areas.

Many school districts in the United States of America have now implemented a four-day school week. This is an alternative to the traditional five-day weekly educational schedule. A four-day schedule involves reducing the number of school days to four, usually from Monday to Thursday, while increasing the length of each school day. The idea of a four-day school week has gained popularity over the last decade. Proponents of a four-day school week argue that it offers several benefits, including cost savings, improved student attendance, and increased teacher morale. By reducing the number of days schools can save money on transportation, food, and energy costs. This can be especially important for rural districts, where students may need to travel long distances to get to school.

This four-day school week would be welcoming in certain rural areas in Jamaica, where traditionally students do not attend school. Unfortunately, students in these rural areas are pulled from school on Fridays to assist their parents in income-earning activities for their families, usually of an agricultural nature.

The National Conference of State Legislatures states that some studies have shown that student attendance improves under a four-day school week. It is rather likely that, with a longer weekend, students have more time to rest and engage in extracurricular activities, which can lead to better attendance during the week. This, in turn, can lead to improved academic performance. Furthermore, a four-day school week can help to boost teacher morale.

The education system, as is, does very little to create an atmosphere of empowerment for our teachers. Sadly, this has a trickle-down effect and the students are oftentimes caught in the middle. Many teachers would find useful an extra day to plan lessons, grade assignments, and attend professional development opportunities.

This new way of reimaging education will empower teachers to feel more prepared and more engaged in their work. This can lead to improved job satisfaction, which can translate into better classroom performance. Nearly 900 school districts in the US currently use a four-day weekly academic schedule. That number rose from 650 districts in 2020 to 876 districts, across 26 states, in 2023. While smaller, rural districts have been more likely to favour the schedule, larger districts are now shortening their school weeks in an effort to recruit and retain teachers. It is a selling point in an era when schools are facing a widespread teacher shortage.

Dale Herl, superintendent of the Independence School District, and his staff has spent months planning for this year’s significant calendar change. His district is the largest in the state to move to a four-day schedule. Herl added that, in order to comply with state requirements for instructional time, which determines how school calendars are structured, the district will add 35 extra minutes on to each day.

Schools in other parts of the US have also noticed similar patterns. In Chico, Texas, where the public school district also announced a shift to four-day academic schedules this year, officials said positions that used to receive five applications were suddenly receiving more than 20.

UN Development Goals Alignment

As countries move towards aligning their curriculum with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals there are two targets that appear elusive. Target 4c aims that, by 2030, there will be a substantial increase in the supply of qualified teachers, including through international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries, especially least developed countries and small island developing states. And target 4.7 says that, by 2030, all learners should acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity, and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development. However, if the teacher shortage continues how will these targets be met?

Building partnerships and maintaining such partnerships with various stakeholders in the education system will be critical in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Global Concerns

Teaching and learning should not be seen as punitive. The flexibility that comes with a four-day school week is appealing. Clearly, the only lasting solution regarding the teacher shortage is to pay teachers a better wages.

There is no quick fix to address all the problems within the education system After all, the issues that have plagued Jamaica’s elitist education system that caters to a percentage of the populace have been in the making for decades; as a result the solutions will take time. Some of the issues we face as a country do not require us to reinvent the wheel. The issue of teacher shortage is a global one; however, some countries have been rather creative at arriving at workable solutions.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) estimates that 69 million teachers are needed globally to provide universal basic education by 2030. According to the 2021 Economic and Social Survey there are approximately 25,074 teachers employed in the public school system. Already, there is a cultural tendency in our society to explore North American-based solutions in order to arrive at a consensus for our local education system.

A good education system requires stability concerning both industrial relations and teacher availability. The problem of crime and violence should be important to all of us. If this is true, the society must then decide whether the current education system is able to mitigate the prevailing toxic culture that so many of our males ascribe to.

Interestingly, many teachers are at a crossroads regarding whether or not to remain in the land of their birth. The fact that North America is actively recruiting our teachers suggests that our teachers are viewed as an asset. May a sense of reciprocal respect be the hallmark of this school year as we work together in order to achieve a transformative educational experience for all this academic year.

In the words of William Arthur Ward: “Teaching is more than imparting knowledge; it is inspiring change. Learning is more than absorbing facts; it is acquiring understanding.”