Dear Editor,

I believe the idea proposed by the Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools (JAPSS) President Linvern Wright, although overambitious, may hold some merit in salvaging the upcoming academic year due to the sudden resignation of over 400 teachers throughout the island.

It is widely acknowledged that many sixth-form students opt for a gap year after completing their second units of Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE); therefore, I believe the Ministry of Education should focus on this specific demographic in order to find a solution to our teacher shortage.

While these students may lack the pedagogical expertise required to manoeuvre in a classroom, they have successfully completed the equivalent of an associate degree in their respective fields. This level of education should qualify them to serve as teaching assistants, a role commonly utilised in foreign countries to support the education system and alleviate the burden on the limited number of qualified teachers.

The creation of these teaching assistant positions would also prove advantageous for students seeking work experience before furthering their education and those who are undecided about their next steps. I propose that these teaching assistants be offered one-year contracts, with the potential for additional funding opportunities should they choose to pursue studies at teachers’ colleges.

It would be remiss of me not to address the matter of remuneration. Therefore, I recommend that the ministry considers offering one-year contracts and an appealing compensation package to the newly appointed teaching assistants.

Naturally, the implementation of this proposal will require some time and so my follow-up suggestion would be to grant government-funded institutions the authorisation and necessary resources (allocated in the budget) to promptly contract these teaching assistants.

The education of our nation is a matter too critical to delay. And considering that Friday marks the beginning of September, I think anything but quick actions would be an act of attrition within Jamaica’s education system.

Steven Palmer

palmersteven84@gmail.com