Letter of the Day | Roll back unconscionable salary increases and invest in education
Published:Wednesday | June 28, 2023 | 12:19 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
It has now been over six weeks since the 200+ per cent increased salaries for politicians were announced and it is clear that despite widespread protests and objections from all levels of society, this is far more important to our politicians than the needs of our children and our people for education.
Today we highlight some of the problems in our education system as just one example of several areas of poor performance hurting our country, while politicians and the governor general are being paid unconscionable salary increases.
Recent reports illustrate the following:
• Teachers resigning – Principals of several high schools report that teachers are resigning at a very high rate as the teachers are not happy with their salaries and they have difficulty replacing them, and the quality of the replacements is below standard when they can find them, but Parliament has voted themselves 200+ per cent salary increases.
• School infrastructure is falling apart – In most schools, the infrastructure is falling apart due to a lack of investment and limited funds for maintenance. To give an example, there is not one functioning science laboratory at Munro College, the alma mater of the minister of finance and the minister of agriculture, but Parliament has voted themselves 200+ per cent salary increases.
• No funds to support Schools Debate Competition of Constitution – We at the Advocates Network (AN), in association with the Jamaican Association for Debating & Empowerment (JADE), have organised a Schools Debating Competition for July and August 2023, but the ministry charged with preparing our new constitution tells us they have no funds to support the debates, but Parliament has voted themselves 200+ per cent salary increases.
• Orlando Patterson report neglected – To date, there has been no public debate or discussion of the 2021 ‘The Reform of Education in Jamaica Report’ by the committee chaired by Orlando Patterson, which was completed at great expense to taxpayers and has made several important recommendations for improving the education of our children, but Parliament has voted themselves 200+ per cent salary increases.
We could go on ad infinitum regarding the lack of resources being invested in our teachers and our education system overall, but the GOJ has voted themselves 200+ per cent salary increases.
The Advocates Network and other civil society organisations, as well as individuals at home and abroad, have maintained SIX WEEKS of sustained advocacy against the 200+ per cent salary increases for politicians but the GOJ has ignored us and other well-meaning members of our society.
We continue to call on the GOJ to listen to the voice of hard-working taxpayers who want to see their money spent on better performance, especially in education.
Hear the cries of the Jamaican people and roll back the unconscionable 200+ per cent salary increases for politicians.
ROBERT STEPHENS
Co-Chairman
Advocates Network