Leonardo Blair, Staff Reporter
THE ISLAND'S education system seems headed for more trouble on Monday as government paid teachers in public primary and secondary schools, resume their protests for an improved wage offer from the Government.
Several schools across the island have reported that directives from the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) arrived late yesterday afternoon, advising them to withdraw their services on Monday. This has developed despite a report from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, that a meeting has been scheduled for next Thursday to start conciliatory talks on the pay dispute.
"We were just told that there was going to be a strike on Monday, late in the afternoon," said one representative from the Ardenne High School. "I never heard much else and I don't know what time the school got the call, but we were told."
At the St. Francis Primary, the call came at about 3:00 p.m. that teachers should stay away. "Most of our teachers don't know yet, because school wasn't in session when the call came," said the St. Francis representative.
At the Wolmer's High School for girls parents were told that they should not send their children to school on Monday, as the teachers will not be turning up.
When The Gleaner contacted Adolph Cameron, Secretary General of the JTA, last night he said, "I cannot comment on that right now, call me back at 7 p.m. tomorrow (today) and I will make a comment then."
In the meantime, however, one representative from a primary school in Portmore, St. Catherine is now concerned about the ripple effects of the strikes.
"Even after the strike this week, attendance fell in practically all the grades. If this continues, the kids won't turn out to school," said the representative.
Teachers in the island's public school system returned to classes on Wednesday, after a two-day strike to support demands for an improved pay offer from the Government. The teachers' action closed down basic, primary and secondary schools across the island for the two days, but has not brought the parties any closer to resolving the dispute.
The matter was referred to the Ministry of Labour with meetings scheduled to start conciliatory efforts at a settlement. There was a fear that the teachers could take further action if the Government did not make an offer acceptable to the Jamaica Teachers Association's (JTA) negotiating team on Thursday.
