New JTA boss wants 'meeting of the minds'

Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer

OCHO RIOS, St Ann:

Newly installed president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA), Nadine Molloy, is calling for stakeholders to come together and address the ills of the education system in Jamaica.

Delivering a wide-ranging address at her inauguration yesterday afternoon at the Sunset Jamaica Grande in Ocho Rios, St Ann, Molloy, the 10th woman to head the JTA, also made it known that it would not be business as usual during her tenure. She vowed "no retreat, no surrender" when it comes to protecting the rights of teachers.

At the same time, the new JTA boss called for public comments on education to be tempered by an understanding and appreciation of the education system. She said the fewer negatives stated about education in the public domain, the better it would be for the system.

Drawing reference to the issue of whether auxiliary fees should be paid, Molloy suggested: "What is needed is a meeting of the minds, not a hardening of positions, regardless of how detrimental they are to the development of the system. Therefore, let us all place our strongest points on the table to find solutions and turn them into action to ensure positive results."

She added: "It leaves me then to make the call for the umpteenth time for implementation of minimum standards at the pre-primary and primary levels of education. This would significantly ease the stressors at the secondary level. The fact is, many of our school buildings are unsuitable for educating and training young minds. Students are at the mercy of the elements, rooms are poorly lit and ill designed."

Holness challenged

Molloy took Education Minister Andrew Holness to task, saying he should shoulder some of the blame for the so-called failing schools, arguing that enough money was not being pumped into education.

Quoting from a World Bank working paper series on per capita expenditure on education in the Caribbean, she said Jamaica was spending half of what its Caribbean neighbours were spending on education.

According to those figures, while Jamaica was spending US$314 and US$460 per annum for educating each child at the primary and secondary levels, respectively, St Kitts, for example, was spending US$861 and US$1,076.

"The fact is, you earn what you spend," Molloy stated.

She argued for more specialised training opportunities for teachers if they are to deliver as expected.

"This must be backed up by the necessary resources provided by the government, chiefly. Therefore, minister, again, you must take responsibility for schools that have been labelled as failures."

Importantly, Molloy also urged teachers to seize every available opportunity to upgrade themselves, saying teachers should not be part of the problem but, rather, a solution to problems affecting the education system.