JTA President Mark Smith - FILE PHOTO
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The Jamaica Teachers Association has put the government on notice that it is ready to take all possible actions against the passage of the heavily disputed Jamaica Teaching Council Act, in its current form.
JTA President Dr Mark Smith, speaking at the National Education Week Church Service at the May Pen Methodist Church in Clarendon Sunday afternoon, said, while teachers welcome the move to establish professional standards, there are glaring issues that cannot be overlooked.
This is the first time the JTA has communicated its position on the bill since it was passed in the Senate on April 25.
It is now scheduled to be debated in the House of Representatives.
Dr. Smith also urged teachers to unite as the union continues to advocate for meaningful change across administrations.
The parliamentary opposition has expressed concerns about the Jamaica Teaching Council bill and called for the government to consider its five recommendations made during a press conference last Tuesday.
Shadow Education Minister, Damion Crawford, in his contribution to the debate in the Senate, said the bill was punitive and argued that it does not support good teachers.
And while speaking on Radio Jamaica's Teachers' Time Sunday afternoon, the JTA President said the Association will continue to press the government to actively address these concerns.
He said, while the government, has somewhat acquiesced to certain matters during consultations, there remain several nuances that the JTA and its members will not support.
Dr Smith told Radio Jamaica News last week that the union would be reviewing the bill with its lawyers before publicly addressing the matter.
He said a press conference will be held to further address the matter.
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