MONTEGO BAY, St James — In a scathing and heartfelt address, Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) President Mark Malabver has underscored the urgent need for fair salaries and improved conditions of service for teachers, framing the ongoing struggle as a fight for social justice rather than merely a financial negotiation.

Addressing the reopening of the association’s western office located at Fairview, Montego Bay, in St James on Friday, Malabver challenged the prevailing narrative that there is never a “good time” to address teachers’ remuneration. He said the issue is long overdue.

“If not now, when?” the JTA head asked, emphasising the sacrifices teachers have made and the lack of adequate recognition for their critical role in society.

“Every time the issue of salaries and conditions of service comes up, as it relates to our teachers, it’s not a good time. It has never been a good time for us,” stated Malabver.

“I get the impression sometimes that there are some quarters in society that are ungrateful… for the sacrifice of our teachers. I get that impression sometimes. And it’s unfortunate. How a society treats its teachers is a direct reflection of whose labour it values and whose well-being it is prepared to safeguard,” he added.

The nation’s public educators have been without a contract since April 2025.

Malabver expressed frustration at what he perceives as societal ingratitude for the work done by educators, stressing that the teaching profession is the foundation of all others. He pointed to data showing that more than 95 per cent of Jamaican teachers have been rated between satisfactory and exemplary for the past three years, outperforming many of their Caribbean counterparts. Yet, despite their excellence, Jamaican teachers remain among the lowest paid in the region, a disparity starkly highlighted by the The Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CAPRI) report.

“But here’s another uncomfortable truth. Our politicians are among the highest paid in the Caribbean. And we are not saying this in a begrudging way, not being bad-minded. But I am saying it because it is: one, factual, and two, there is a need to stir our consciousness into action,” argued Malabver.

“The fight for better salaries and conditions of service is a fight for social justice,” the union head declared. He stressed that teaching excellence can no longer be sustained by goodwill, personal sacrifice, or moral appeal alone.

“Maslow’s hierarchy of needs comes before Bloom’s taxonomy,” stated Malabver, who underscored the fundamental importance of fair compensation and dignified working conditions.

He also pointed to the increasing demands placed on teachers, who are expected to stabilise communities, address trauma in classrooms, and compensate for systemic gaps in education — all without adequate pay or support. He described the current situation as “not only unjust, but unsustainable”, warning that underpaying teachers while demanding expanded roles perpetuates inequality within the education system itself.

Highlighting the Ernst and Young report commissioned by the Government, Malabver revealed that teachers were valued at a higher pay band than they currently occupy, with a difference amounting to approximately $1.2 million annually.

“Anything short of that is tantamount to indentured labour,” he asserted firmly.

Looking ahead, Malabver said the Government is expected to provide a date next week to resume salary negotiations with the JTA. He pledged that the association will approach talks in good faith but with eyes wide open, insisting on salaries that reflect teachers’ true worth.

Malabver also called on the public and his colleagues for support and solidarity in this critical fight.

“If last year you prayed for me, pray a little harder this year,” he urged, emphasising the collective effort needed to achieve justice for Jamaica’s educators.

“Go upon some fasting. Come together online because the Bible says where two or more are gathered… So I ask your support, colleagues, as we go out, as we step out this year to push for better salaries and conditions of service,” he appealed.