Education Minister departs island amid teachers’ protests
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Amidst a two-day industrial strike action by teachers over salary discrepancies and compensation review, Minister of Education Fayval Williams was seen departing the island on Friday.
Teachers on Friday voiced their discontent outside the Ministry of Finance in Kingston pointing to the discrepancies in salaries, with one educator asserting that “there will be an exodus of teachers”.
The teachers pointed out that there are many unresolved issues in the compensation review that the Government was yet to iron out.
READ: ‘Fix it Nigel’ – Disgruntled educators bash Gov’t over salary discrepancies, compensation review
In addition, a group of approximately 20 placard-bearing teachers marched from the Manchester High School to the Ministry of Education’s Region Five office in Mandeville.
READ: Placard-bearing teachers march on MOE Region 5 office in Manchester
When contacted, Director of Corporate Communication at the Ministry of Education, Colin Steer stated that the minister is able to carry out her functions wherever she is.
“That’s not something I would comment on…The Minister is a responsible person and she is able to do her work wherever she is,” he told OBSERVER ONLINE.