By Francine Black, Staff ReporterTHE MINISTRY of Education has sought advice to determine its next move regarding the recovery of millions of dollars that was overpaid to teachers who were reclassified in 1995.
The Jamaica Teachers' Associa-tion (JTA) has maintained its stance against total repayment of the $20 million that the Ministry is claiming was overpaid to as many as 80 teachers.
"We are being advised," was the only comment yesterday from Senator Noel Montieth, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education.
Yesterday, Wentworth Gabbidon, JTA President, maintained the association's stance against total repayment of the overpaid monies.
"Because of the nature of the issue and the legal advice we have received, we are maintaining that total recovery is not possible."
The controversy surrounding the issue was sparked some weeks ago when the Ministry discovered it had been overpaying a number of teachers since a reclassification exercise in 1995.
Both the JTA and the Ministry had entered into discussions in an effort to find a solution to the problem.
A meeting is scheduled for January 13 for the JTA and the Ministry to discuss the matter with a view to arriving at a solution.
"We hope the Ministry will have completed its consultations and notified us of its intentions by the meeting," Mr. Gabbidon said.
