Ministry saves millions from teacher-leave reform

Byron Buckley, Guest Columnist

YOUR EDITORIAL of February 11, 2014 raised concerns that the Ministry of Education might be losing its resolve to reform the arrangements with the nation's teachers. The facts indicate otherwise.

Since portfolio minister Ronald Thwaites' Sectoral presentation to Parliament last May, there has been a quiet but resolute man-agement of retirement, study-leave and vacation-leave app-lications, which has saved expenditure of about $750 million.

This saving has been achieved by filling retirement vacancies without adding to the gross numbers in employment, by aligning advanced study to classroom responsibilities, and by replacing, internally, more than 90 per cent of the eight-month leave taken during instructional days. This pattern will continue, and is entirely consistent with the existing Code of Regulations.

In this regard, the ministry is heartened by the recent pro-nouncements of Patrick Smith, senior secretary, member services of the Jamaica Teachers' Ass-ociation (JTA), acknowledging that normally, "teachers are not entitled to vacation leave outside of school vacations".

No leave outside holidays

This is exactly what Section 64 of the Code states in sub-section 1: "Teachers in public-educational institutions shall not normally be eligible for vacation leave with pay in addition to school holidays." However, the practice has been otherwise.

There is no plan to take away the leave entitlements of teachers, so Mr Smith need not fear. But there is definitely a resolve by the Ministry of Education to manage leave arrangements in a way that causes least disruption and expense to the schools and, by extension, the taxpayers.

While the ministry is restricting the granting of study leave to targeted subject areas, it is supportive of the delivery of continuing education through modalities that minimise disruption to school operation.

In this regard, persons, especially teachers, interested in educational advancement should pay close attention to the opportunities for professional advancement through the National College for Educational Leadership (NCEL). Several hundred principals, vice-principals and aspirant school leaders have been, and now are, engaged in a comprehensive course of institutional leadership geared specifically towards excellent management of Jamaican schools. There is a long waiting list to enrol. There should be, as most of our teachers are ambitious for professional advancement and are not afraid of accountability.

Better placement

The underemployment of as many as 1,500 teachers in the nation's schools is also a matter that the ministry has been addressing. The education system needs these personnel, but not where they are tenured. There are about 200 schools with fewer than 100 students where the teacher-student ratio is 1 to 12, or fewer. These schools are underperforming in the majority.

Side by side, there are other schools where the teacher-student ratio exceeds 50 to 1. This is a grossly inefficient use of taxpayers' dollars, as well as human resource, in the education sector.

We believe it is in the interest of student attainment (the goal of us all) and teacher effectiveness that rebalancing and relocation should take place in deploying instructional personnel.

The Ministry of Education is committed to this task. protocol has been developed for con-sensual relocation whereby the affected teacher will carry all the status and benefits to which he or she is entitled, to the new post.

It goes further: After a year of relocation, either the teacher or the receiving school can request a reversion to the original post. It is good to hear the commitment of the JTA to assist the ministry with the process. Progress must be made in time for the new school year in 2014.

In addition to the adminis-trative reforms outlined above, the ministry is overseeing the introduction of the Jamaica Teaching Council bill, which is aimed at promoting professional standards among educators. The bill is now in the hands of the National Council on Education for review. The views about the interests represented in the composition of the Jamaica Teaching Council are being considered.

The ministry is open to negotiation and amendment to the proposed legislation, not-withstanding four years of consultation. The fundamental principle is that a largely unregulated and unaccountable profession must, in its own and the nation's interest, be subject to a new order.

The implementation of this new professionalism must be effected by a broad representation of interest groups headed by a majority of educators not controlled by the ministry, the Union, the Church etc., although all must be amply represented.

Byron Buckley is director of corporate communications in the Ministry of Education. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and byron.buckley@moey.gov.jm.