Education ministry rubbishes Dixon’s claim
THE education ministry has rubbished a claim by Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) president-elect Doran Dixon that it owes a teacher two months’ salary because he refused to be transferred.
According to the ministry, the teacher — Glenville Mitchell — ceased being an employee of the Ministry of Education as of August 31, 2013.
“Prior to this date, he was engaged from 2010 as a temporary teacher at Mizpah All-Age School in Mandeville to instruct boys in agriculture for one year. At the end of the period, his employment was extended for another year. This was done twice,” the ministry said in a statement responding to Dixon’s claim.
Last Friday, Dixon had accused the ministry of victimising Mitchell because of his refusal to take up employment at another school, which, Dixon said, would create additional economic hardships for him because he would have to relocate his family.
According to Dixon, Mitchell had indicated that it would not be in his best interest to take up the transfer. However, he was told that he would have to do so or else he wouldn’t be paid.
“We cannot sit by and allow a teacher to be deprived of his salary for no other reason but the fact that he has not agreed to be forcibly relocated, and it’s a relocation that would cause him not just physical discomfort, but a significant economic discomfort,” Dixon said at the Jamaica Observer Western Regional Teachers’ Luncheon held in Montego Bay.
But the education ministry said that its regional director had informed Mitchell on several occasions that 2012/2013 was his last year at the school.
“In an effort to assist Mr Mitchell to secure employment elsewhere, the regional director recommended him to the management of St Paul’s Primary School in Manchester to fill a temporary position,” the ministry said. “The regional director later learned that Mr Mitchell reported to the job at St Paul’s Primary on the first day of the new school year and didn’t return.”
The ministry explained that its Salaries Department was advised to discontinue payment to Mitchell as his tenure at Mizpah All-Age came to an end on August 31.
The regional director also updated the JTA, through the office of the general secretary, Dr Adolf Cameron, who, the ministry said, “appeared to have grasped a clear understanding of the situation and the efforts made by the ministry to assist Mr Mitchell”.
The ministry said therefore that it was surprised by media reports, attributed to Dixon, that it owes Mitchell two months’ salary.
“Furthermore,” the ministry said, it “did not, and could not suggest the voluntary relocation of Mr Mitchell to another school, as he was not a permanent employee.”