New York-bound teachers and the Government THE EDITOR, Sir: THE RECENT aggressive recruitment drive of teachers undertaken by the Centre for Recruitment and Professional Development based in New York should sound a deafening alarm to the government. The government continues to be out of touch with the reality that teachers play the most important role in the growth and development of society and meagre salaries coupled with impossible working conditions will drive many away. Teachers are justly frustrated and tired of giving and getting nothing in return. Many teachers have loans, mortgages, car payments and families to feed and the current salary structure makes life miserable for the average teacher. It is sad to know that most teachers cite the need for a better compensation package as the main reason for their interest in leaving the Jamaican education system. Teaching in the USA will be no doubt very challenging and hard for some but at least the compensation package makes one's effort and despair a little better. I wholeheartedly support those who made decision to leave. The opportunity to study, get better pay, health benefits and garner new experiences will far outweigh the pinch of disloyalty they will feel or be made to feel. The Ministry of Education and the well intentioned Minister need to address the issue of the teacher brain drain and come up with a comprehensive plan to retain the quality and experienced teachers before they all leave. About 600 of our best will not be in the school system come September and the results will be felt from primary through tertiary levels. The Government made this hard and tough bed and as such they should lie in it. I am etc., EZANA T. PEART E-mail: tafari75@hotmail.com Lecturer, Department of English Harrisburg College Georgia, USA Via Go-Jamaica
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