MOST JAMAICANS think teachers should be licensed to ensure greater accountability in the profession, according to the findings of a Gleaner-commis-sioned Don Anderson poll.
The poll, which was conducted between June 2 and June 30 among a nationally representative sample of 1,037 respondents, showed that just under 59 per cent of persons interviewed said teachers should be licensed. According to them, this would help to improve accountability in the education sector.
The strongest support for this view came from young persons in the 18 to 24 age group, according to the poll. Just under 31 per cent of the respondents said they opposed the view, while another nearly 11 per cent said they were not sure.
Education Minister Maxine Henry-Wilson told Parliament in May that issues relating to the professional retooling and continuous education as pre-requisites for continued employment in the classroom would be addressed.
She added that "the introduction of a licensing and re-certification system for all teachers in Jamaica are among the matters that would be addressed in the course of the financial year."
Meanwhile, in the same poll, a staggering 73 per cent of the respondents said that teachers should be paid based on their performance.
"Over 73 per cent of all persons interviewed are convinced that paying teachers on the basis of their performance would enhance educational standards in Jamaica and should be pursued," said Mr. Anderson in his analysis.
The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus three per cent.
