KINGSTON, Jamaica — The People’s National Party Youth Organisation (PNPYO) is calling on the Government to implement a comprehensive national teacher-retention strategy as Jamaica prepares for the 2026/27 academic year, amid concerns about the continued loss of educators from the public education system.

According to a release from the PNPYO, the warning from the Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools that the teacher shortage is approaching crisis level cannot be treated as another routine back-to-school challenge. Principals are reportedly having difficulty recruiting teachers in critical subject areas, while concerns remain about salaries, working conditions and the profession’s ability to attract and retain young educators.

The organisation said the issue is not new, pointing to figures highlighted by the Jamaica Teachers’ Association in 2025 which showed that more than 700 Jamaican teachers had left for the United States and another 500 for the United Kingdom in the preceding year.

While acknowledging Government measures, including the engagement of retired, part-time and pre-trained graduate teachers, final-year student teachers and other recruitment initiatives, the PNPYO said these largely address vacancies after teachers leave.

“Jamaica urgently needs policies designed to make our teachers want to stay,” the organisation said.

The PNPYO also linked the teacher shortage to student outcomes, noting that only 44 per cent of Jamaican students passed CSEC Mathematics in 2025.

“We cannot seriously discuss improving literacy, numeracy, STEM education and national productivity while continuously losing experienced educators from our classrooms,” the organisation said.

It is therefore calling on the Government to urgently outline a measurable teacher-retention strategy that addresses competitive compensation, manageable workloads, improved working conditions, professional development, housing and other incentives, particularly for educators in critical subject areas.

“Our teachers are not simply employees of the State. They are central to Jamaica’s development,” the PNPYO said.

“We cannot build a stronger education system by continually replacing the teachers we fail to retain. Jamaica’s children deserve better, and our teachers deserve a reason to stay.”