By Erica James-King, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
CONCERNS ARE being raised that an 'unusually high' number of teachers from western Jamaica, having just graduated from teachers' colleges, are having a difficult time securing jobs in the profession.
The Western Regional Office of the Jamaica Teachers' Association has highlighted the shortage of job opportunities, which it says is causing frustration among recent college graduates.
Evelyn Tugwell, Western Regional Manager of the JTA, told The Gleaner that several teachers were having problems in finding jobs, up to late last week. But she did not give the exact number.
She explained that the problem was different from in previous years, when young teachers would have had no problem securing jobs at the start of the school year.
"Many of the young teachers leaving colleges have not been able to get jobs and some have turned to us for help in assisting them to find vacancies," Mrs. Tugwell, said. "This is unusual as in years gone by most graduates from teachers' colleges would have secured jobs, before the last week in August."
Another concern for the JTA is that, for several teachers leaving college this year and who have succeeded in getting jobs, they are only in temporary 'four-month' positions, filling in for teachers who are on vacation leave. This means in a few months, they will once again be job-hunting.
The JTA official says that it is not because most schools have their full staff complement why teachers just entering the profession in western Jamaica are having difficulty procuring jobs.
"It has come to our attention that some schools are not adequately staffed, but they have not yet been granted permission to take on additional staff," Mrs. Tugwell said. "Many are awaiting definite word from the Education Ministry on the matter, and they hope the directive will be forthcoming some time in September."
She was at pains to point out that the JTA has not detected any reluctance on the part of schools, in hiring teachers to fill replacement positions (that is, replacement for those who are on leave or have left their jobs).
In the meantime, more job opportunities will open up in the teaching profession in western Jamaica, in the next 12 months. This as, under the North West Jamaica Schools Programme, which is being managed by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), Frome Technical High School in Westmoreland is to be relocated to new and spacious buildings, and seven high, four primary and five new basic schools will be constructed in St. James, Hanover and Trelawny.
According to Lauriston Wilson, director of Technical Services in the Education Ministry, Erwin High and Erwin Primary Schools which are being built on the outskirts of Montego Bay, are slated for completion by December. The two institutions should be staffed and ready to accept children by September next year.
