THE EDITOR, Sir:TEACHERS OF primary, all-age and secondary/high schools who retired before 1995 are in a financial plight. They are now at the bottom tier of pension benefits. This is particularly true of teachers who retired during the period 1989 to 1995. These teachers are receiving a gross pension of less than $14,000 per month and as low as $10,000 (except for some who were principals). These are qualified teachers who have given full service in the profession for over 40 years. There is no difference between the minimum pension paid to these professionally trained teachers and ancillary workers or support staff.
The basic amenities of food, shelter and clothing are virtually out of the reach of these pensioners, most of whom are over 70 years of age. Monthly medical bills often exceed their monthly pensions. Many have to depend on relatives, friends, and other charitable organisations for financial support and those who own a car or house can no longer maintain or insure it. Some who had household helpers can no longer do so. They are in a woefully desperate situation. It is no wonder that so many of these retired teachers are now suffering from depression, Alzheimer's and other, presumably, stress-related illnesses.
The increased pension benefit carried out by the 'powers that be', has clearly indicated that they have lost touch with reality and have taken away fundamental rights, like right to food, housing and health care. This is seen in the gap between these earlier retirees and the most recent ones. This gap is growing by 'geometrical proportions' and so lends itself to the good old line of the rich becoming richer and the poor becoming poorer. Likewise, the gap between the higher pension earners (say over $50,000 per month) and the very low pension earners (below $12,000 per month) is even becoming wider.
A case in point was the increase in pension benefits in 2003 when there was an offer of a 10 per cent increase to all pensioners earning less than $50,000 a month and a $5,000 lump sum to all those who are earning over $50,000 monthly. A large number of our qualified retirees, up to June 2003 were earning only $10,000 per month gross. Is not 10 per cent of $10,000 only $1,000? Ten per cent is very little, whether you add, subtract, divide or multiply. The question is why should one pensioner receive over $100,000 per month while another receives $11,000 per month? So, we continue to see the woefully disproportionate distribution of pension benefits to early retired teachers.
In the face of this most unsatisfactory situation, the Pensioners Association made a recommendation to the Ministry of Finance asking for a more equitable distribution of pension benefits. That recommendation to my knowledge has been ignored by the Government.
It is unfortunate that the Ministry of Finance should treat with impunity a recommendation from a group of persons who have given long and sacrificial service to their country. Retired teachers should not be denied a voice in making representations to help them to withstand economic pressures. This behaviour on the part of the powerful has had dire social consequences. But the retired teachers have always maintained a dignified approach to unfair and otherwise unsatisfactory practices. We will endeavour to be dignified hoping that our grievance will be addressed. In the meantime, we register our strong protest against inhumane treatment.
I am, etc.,
A RETIRED TEACHER
