There may not be any teachers left in Jamaica

THE EDITOR, Madam:

As graduation season progresses, the more I realise and admire the concurrent sentiments of parents, teachers, students and Jamaicans at large. The emotions of illustriousness and great-heartedness expand like that of a smothered cloud over the Jamaican atmosphere.

It is, however, a disheartening coincidence that, while our students continue to excel, the hard work of our assiduous teachers seems to go unrecognised. The evidence is presented in the daily job advertisements of different mediums. I speak in particular of job advertisements in the Careers section of The Sunday Gleaner. Since June 18 to July 2, approximately 300 vacant teaching positions have been advertised. As the days progress, so do the vacant teaching positions. It is still early days yet, as the summer heightens. So will the education sector gaze with great disappointment as our teachers take flight.

Where are we going wrong? Why are our teachers leaving in such magnitude? The answer is quite simple.

The need for better wages, attractive compensation packages and reduced workload are yet simple solutions to save our teachers. Reduce the torture for teachers writing lesson plans all weekend. Develop a lesson plan bank from which teachers can ‘pull and teach’ lessons and, in essence, allow weekends for family and recreational time.

If this teacher migration continues for another five years, not only will Jamaica face the impact of brain-drain, but I guarantee parents will have to start teaching their children.

Adhere, adopt. ASAP, please save our teachers!

NORDIA THOMPSON

nordia.thompson@

hotmail.com