KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Ministry of Education has approved leave for 2,026 teachers for the 2025–2026 academic year, at a total cost of $7.87 billion.

The figure includes payments for temporary replacements and direct leave entitlements, the ministry confirmed in a statement issued Wednesday.

The approvals were granted from a total of 2,860 applications submitted.

According to the ministry, the leave approvals span four key categories:
Four Months’ Vacation Leave: 834 teachers, eight Months’ Vacation Leave: 907 teachers, Study Leave: 71 teachers and Leave Prior to Retirement: 123 teachers.

In a special measure, 91 teachers received approval for eight months’ vacation leave despite surpassing the statutory 10 per cent cap.

“This exception was made to facilitate all teachers who were at the maximum of their leave entitlement and denial would have negatively affected future entitlements had they not proceed on leave this academic year,” the ministry explained.

In addition to the teacher leave approvals, six non-academic staff across three regions were granted study leave at an estimated cost of $17.7 million.

Permanent Secretary Dr Kasan Troupe said the ministry was able to fulfill its statutory obligations under the Education Regulations, 1980, thanks to budgetary provisions approved by the Government.

“We applaud the work of the school boards and principals who facilitated the initial reviews and recommendations for further deliberations at the ministry level” Dr Troupe said. She acknowledged that despite the substantial allocation, not all applications could be approved within the statutory limits.

Teachers whose leave applications were not approved may appeal through the ministry’s administrative channels, with cases reviewed individually and subject to budgetary constraints. This annual leave process, guided by national education policy, is part of the ministry’s effort to maintain a balanced approach to teacher welfare and stable school operations.