THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE JAMAICA Teachers Association and its members should strongly resist the Government's proposed marriage of pay increases to performance. Merit pay is a desirable mechanism to reward those who meet and exceed performance standards. What is suspect though about the government's proposal is the absence of the instrument to be used to measure performance.
Until such time that an instrument is tabled, there should be no decision by the JTA. The Government and the JTA must tread carefully on this issue given the inherent complexities involved in measuring teacher performance as different from learning outcomes.
The JTA must insist that
future pay increases must at a minimum be based on two variables. One variable must be a Cost of Living index. The other, if the Government can produce one that is acceptable, a Performance Index. To extend pay increases based only on the latter, is unacceptable.
The JTA must however negotiate with the understanding that teachers must be willing to give up something in order to achieve their desired end. A restructured Leave Policy will certainly go a far way in these negotiations.
I am etc,
RICHARD KITSON-
WALTERS
kittywally@comcast.net
Baltimore, MD
Via Go-Jamaica
