THE EDITOR, Sir:
I WOULD like to ask the question: "Why bother with teachers' colleges in Jamaica?" It is clear that all one has to do is to leave High School, go to University for two years, get a Degree and apply at almost any school. They would be glad to take one on staff.
And not only that, you are more likely to hold a senior teacher's position (which comes with more pay!) in a few years, ahead of those who waste three years at Teachers' College and a further three to four years earning a related Degree in their chosen discipline. To make life even easier, you can apply to teach almost anything you want with your (whatever) Degree! After all, if a prominent high school is hiring persons with Certificates and Degrees in Management Studies and History in their English Department, then it should be a snap. Let's face it, how hard can it really be?
Dr. Polly Howell, in a recent edition of The Gleaner, claimed that there were highly qualified teachers out there who are out of jobs. That is certainly true. One wonders how this could have come about. The answer is simple: There is nothing in place in the Ministry of Education's Code of Regulations to ensure that professional teachers, who take the time and money to qualify themselves properly, are protected and guaranteed tenure and upward mobility in their jobs.
I am positive that there are too many teachers who will join with me and say that the Minister of Education must put in place proper legislation to restrict permanent employment and promotion of pre-trained teachers of any category.
Trained teachers must be able to advance upward professionally. The system cannot be set up only for those opportunists who wish to use their time in the classroom to gain important management skills to move on to more lucrative positions in the Private Sector, at the expense of the Government, students, and most importantly, the Professional Teachers.
I am, etc.,
A PROFESSIONAL
Kingston 2
