Teachers demand more than retroactive payment

FALMOUTH, Trelawny:

SALARIES, INCLUSIVE of the retroactive payment schedule, may be paramount for the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) at this time, but other things are drawing the ire of the organisation.

Speaking against the background of physical attacks on teachers, Nadine Molloy Young, president of the JTA, told educators at the Trelawny annual general meeting of the union last Friday to protect themselves.

"Teachers, you have the right to use reasonable force to defend yourself," she urged.

revise education code

The JTA boss said the process of dealing with violent children is too slow. She noted that the education code stipulates that a board meeting is to be called within 10 days to deal with a child who is displaying deviant behaviour.

"When teachers get injured on the job they have to go into their pockets to pay, and that is something I have been raising with the minister and the ministry team," the president said. She wants the ministry to visit this aspect of the education process.

Meanwhile, Molloy Young was critical of some of the changes that are made in the education system, without giving teachers adequate notice.

"One of the challenges is that too many things are being attempted at the same time, the teachers feel that they are constantly playing catch-up, as soon as you hear about something, something else is coming," Molloy Young said, adding that she wants more dialogue, as teachers who have been in the system must have an input in the proceedings.