News Briefs

Writing on the wall for bursar-paid salaries

Teachers now operating in bursar-paid schools will soon receive direct disbursement from the Ministry of Education under a centralised system that will be phased in.

That announcement was made by Education Minister Fayval Williams on Wednesday, the final day of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association’s (JTA) 58th Annual Conference in Montego Bay, St James.

Williams said that a comprehensive audit of all bursar-paid schools was under way to address the recurring problem of late or missed salary payments.

The minister did not give a timeline for the dissolution of the bursar-paid system.

Pat Chin promoting book

The founder and CEO of VP Records, Patricia Chin, is currently in Jamaica to promote her new book.

In the 207-page tome My Reggae Music Journey, Chin chronicles her odyssey from her humble beginnings in a small downtown Kingston record shack to becoming the world’s largest independent reggae record label.

Scores of never-before-seen photographs gathered over six decades are included.

The book is available in hard copy, a downloadable e-version, as well as in audio book format narrated by broadcaster Fae Ellington.

Financial planning seminars for teachers

Education Minister Fayval Williams is pushing for the development of financial planning seminars for teachers to help them become more savvy in making investments

She said she was in dialogue with players in the financial-services sector to craft a programme specially tailored for teachers.

“We need more financial seminars for our teachers so we can help our teachers to realise the dreams that they have. We can help them with their financial planning, and we can give them advice in terms of expanding income sources ... ,” the minister said during the 58th Annual Conference of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association on Wednesday.

Williams acknowledged teachers’ long-standing concerns with remuneration but said she was committed to improving their knowledge of risk tolerance, long-term investments, and emergency savings.

Chess workshops in St Mary

St Mary Western Member of Parliament Robert Montague is hosting a series of chess workshops in his constituency to enhance strategic thinking.

“The purpose of these workshops is to get young people ... to play the game, to be more focused, and strategic in their thinking and choices. Chess does that,” Montague said.

The series is sponsored by the Sports Development Foundation, with members of the Jamaica Chess Federation providing instruction.

The workshops started recently at Tacky High in Gayle and continues Thursday at Oracabessa High.