KINGSTON, Jamaica — President of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), Leighton Johnson has expressed disappointment and concern regarding the Ministry of Education’s plan to recruit overseas teachers for the 2024/25 academic year, which begins in September.

In a statement on Wednesday, Johnson noted that while the decision is a measure to mitigate the current teacher shortage across the country, it highlights a significant issue that requires urgent attention and collaborative action.

The JTA president noted that Jamaica is home to at least 10 esteemed tertiary institutions dedicated to the noble profession of teacher training. He said these institutions have, for decades, produced educators of the highest calibre equipped to nurture and develop young minds.

Noting this, Johnson said it is a sad day for the country when “we must once again resort to foreign teachers to fill roles that our own qualified and capable educators should occupy.”

“The migration of teachers from Jamaica is not a new phenomenon, but its recent intensification is a clear indication of deeper systemic issues that need addressing. Our teachers are the backbone of our education system, and their departure in search of better opportunities abroad highlights the urgent need to improve the salaries, conditions and incentives for our educators here at home,” Johnson said.

The announcement that the ministry is employing various teacher retention strategies to include overseas recruitment was made by Acting Chief Education Officer, Terry-Ann Thomas Gayle.

Thomas Gayle was responding to a question posed during the ministry’s Region Six 2024 Back-to-School Conference at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Monday, July 15 during which she told the audience the ministry is currently engaging teachers from Nigeria, Ghana, the Philippines and India.

Johnson argues that while he appreciates the ministry’s efforts to ensure students do not suffer due to the shortage of teachers, the solution is temporary and does not address the systemic and root causes of the problem.

“It is imperative that we focus on creating an environment where our teachers feel valued, supported, and adequately compensated for their invaluable contributions to our society,” he said.

He noted that as an association, the JTA continues to lobby for improved salaries and conditions of service.

“The salary structure for teachers must be competitive and aligned to international standards. There is the urgent need for retention incentives to encourage teachers to remain in our classrooms. This again is in keeping with best practices and international trends,” Johnson said.

He added that it is also imperative for the government to seriously contemplate non-monetary incentives, such as reduced mortgage rates for teachers, tax reliefs for the purchasing of motor vehicles, land gifting and student loan debt forgiveness for teachers and teacher’s children as viable incentives to keep teachers.

Johnson further called for a national campaign to increase the enrolment of students in teacher training institutions, noting that it also presents an opportunity for the training of teachers for the overseas markets and job placements.

The JTA said it stands ready to collaborate with the Ministry of Education to develop sustainable strategies that will retain teachers and make teaching in Jamaica an attractive and rewarding profession.