Dear Editor,

Worldwide, we continue to face teacher shortages which have had serious effects on education systems globally. Although teacher migration is not new, the past five years have been particularly challenging for Jamaica’s education sector. Numerous teaching vacancies are featured weekly in local newspapers and online, especially now as we gear up to start the new school year.

To fill these vacancies, the Ministry of Education and Youth has implemented a few recruiting strategies, including hiring pretrained graduates and senior students from our teachers’ colleges. In addition to that, permanent secretary in the education ministry, Dr Kasan Troupe, recently announced that the Government has expanded its search to international communities to help alleviate the situation. She noted that teachers from Cuba would be coming to Jamaica to teach subjects such as Spanish, mathematics, and the sciences. Additionally, there will be recruits from India, Nigeria, Ghana, and the Philippines. In fact, Dr Troupe said that these later countries have reached out to the ministry, indicating their willingness and availability to move to Jamaica to teach. Importantly, she indicated that the decision is up to school boards to hire these international teachers.

Many Jamaicans may find this bizarre, but the reality is that, while many want to abandon the island, there are several outsiders who are interested to run to our shores.

As someone who has taught and studied internationally, I understand fully well many of the pros and cons that come with international teacher recruitment.

On the positive side, it promotes diversity, tolerance, intercultural communicative competence, cultural awareness, among other things.

On the downside, both teachers and students have to adjust to new environs, personalities, and teaching styles. In fact, pedagogy can be a great difficulty. Foreign teachers come with their own methodologies and cultural notions that may be difficult for local students to appreciate. Also, foreign teachers may have to deal with behavioural issues to which they are not accustomed.

Another important factor to consider is the obtaining of work permits. It would be helpful if this process is alleviated to accommodate these teachers. Besides, who pays for the work permit since it is the Government that needs teachers?

All things said, the Government has to find strategies to mitigate against the abundance of teacher vacancies. But is it that they are doing everything else other than providing better compensation packages and working conditions?

Oneil Madden

Maddenoniel@yahoo.com