Education Minister urged to implement strategy to retain teachers

By Kimone Witter    

 

Education Minister Senator Dr. Dana Morris Dixon is being urged to implement a teacher retention plan to counter the yearly migration issue.

 

This is among the dramatic shifts and policy changes that Opposition Spokesman on Education Senator Damion Crawford wants to see under Senator Morris Dixon's leadership.

 

Senator Crawford argues that while the Education Ministry has identified a teacher exit problem, there is no plan to entice educators to remain in the system. 

 

"So we want to see that immediately being implemented because we're going to face the same issue, the cumulative issue, that there will be more teachers leaving in January, and more teachers leaving next September. So we are going to have issues if we don't try to retain these teachers or fight for the services of the teachers.

 

Senator Crawford said the retention strategy must include more than just increasing the salaries of the educators. 

 

"If you simply go to payment, then you will always lose that battle because there are other countries that have greater capacity to pay, and the exchange rate will always cause it to be perceived to be higher. So you have to look at things like owning a home. We believe that teachers should get a special NHT. We get nine, they might get 18. When you leave, it becomes a normal loan. So therefore, because you don't want that 2% to become 14 or 12%, you will stay," he proposed. 

 

"We believe that every five years that they stay, they should get a discount and a vehicle for concession. So it means that you get a bigger concession after 10 years, you get a bigger concession after 15 years, causing for longevity to be a thing. We believe we should forgive every year of student loan that they stay in the system. So though it's not salary, that removal of an expense [will] give them a greater capacity to enjoy a quality of life. So we think that those are some approaches they can take," the senator further suggested. 

 

He was a guest on TVJ's Smile Jamaica, on Monday.