THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE IDEA of a 'social partnership' is neither new nor necessarily negative. I welcome the opportunity to embrace the concept. However, in regard to teachers in particular, any signing of a document advancing such a concept requires not only democratic consultation but also careful analysis, with much appreciation for the historical context that informs the call. That is my view of the current public focus on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Like any serious social partnership, it ought not to be entered into 'lightly'.
Other countries, such as Barbados, have had successful social partnerships, but operating from a better base. Our foundational reality is dreadful and another political band-aid will not work, however cleverly worded and publicly trumpeted. We are now in the 21st century and in a rapidly changing world with higher and higher demands we are trailing seriously, and unnecessarily. For example, only 3.5 per cent of our work force have a first degree and 70 per cent have no training.
What's to be done? To comment briefly, here are my recommendations:
1. We must fix our economics. We have for too long pursued policies that have led us downward. High interest rates and high debt have resulted in low economic growth. And while we fiddled and the country burned, our main trading partners, for most of the closing years of the last century, enjoyed real economic growth, above three per cent
2. We must prioritise spending on education. The revenue on the education
Tax should be spent exclusively on equitable funding of all sectors of the education system. To this end, the revenue should be placed in an education development fund.
3. We must orient more toward the American educational testing and measurement systems. We are being strangled by British elitist systems. The inherent weakness I seek to expose is evident in how so many of our so-called 'not bright' students do so well in their studies in the USA.
4. We need to tidy up administratively. There are issues to be resolved that are more important managerially than financially. For example, we need to standardise the early childhood system, to have ready a new code of regulations, to resolve amicably the issue of outstanding pay for substitute teachers, to settle satisfactorily recognition of Liberal Arts College of Jamaica, and to have a new teacher evaluation system, etc.
I stand ready to pledge full support and join hands with any other individual and organisation, as well as the Government, for partnership that puts Jamaica's interest first. If the present political administration is serious about putting Jamaica first, then stretch forth the hand we long to clasp in firm partnership.
I am, etc.,
RUEL B. REID
Master teacher at Munro College and St.
Elizabeth representative on the National
Council of the JTA.
