Dear Editor,

The amount of teachers getting up and leaving their local placements for what they view as better opportunities for themselves and their dependents is a stressful, shocking, and really unfortunate issue for leaders of educational institutions to deal with.

The issue for me is not about people looking for greener pastures and better income to take care of their families, since everyone surely has that right. The burning issue is the improper way in which it is being done in so many instances without consequence. Brazen violation of the lawful requirement to give proper notice continues unabated without any implications for the guilty teachers. Many of my colleagues who are school leaders have reported on “resignations with immediate effect” which have occurred over the last couple of days.

These are not only illegal acts, but it is also turning out to be a massive betrayal of the children of the nation. I do wish for the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) to step out as responsible leaders and condemn this type of behaviour in more stronger terms. The JTA’s instructions to its guilty members who contribute to this problem have been, so far, a bit sugar-coated, very disappointing, and way too weak.

I also hope that the authorities will find ways to curb this behaviour.

I am of the view that the granting and renewal of teachers’ licences should be subject to lawful behaviour just like other licences in Jamaica. A driver’s licence or banker’s licence could be suspended or totally taken away based on the severity of breaches or illegal behaviour. Teachers should come under the same governance just like everyone else. The same licence which qualifies teachers for an overseas job should be governed in a way to benefit the children of Jamaica too.

Government should ensure that the teachers who are leaving private institutions to occupy spaces in public schools present evidence of having given proper notice to their bosses at the private schools; otherwise, the Government will not be in a position to complain when public school teachers do the same when leaving to taking up overseas positions. Members of the Jamaica Independent Schools Association have been hurting very badly over the years because of the overnight departure of many of our teachers to public schools.

In light of this crisis, it is my personal belief that common sense should be applied and the move to have only licensed teachers engaged by schools should be put on pause for now. We have no other choice in this crisis but to lean on our untrained teachers, and once they are getting the job done, we should not bother them about getting licensed. As the saying goes, if it is not broken, don’t fix it. Once a school is meeting the educational standards and students are doing well in the national exit exams, etc, then why bother them about licensing successful untrained staff? One of my daughters has been an untrained teacher for the past two years, and so far at least 98 per cent of her students have been successful at the national exams. Should we bother someone like her?

A final word to the teachers. God is watching your actions and the level of respect which you have shown to Jamaican children. If you are found guilty, mark my words, you will not go unpunished!

Pastor Wesley Boynes

President

Jamaica Independent Schools Association

wesley.boynes@gmail.com