Petrina Francis, Education Reporter
Natasha Brown-Smith, teacher at Windward Road Primary and Junior High School in Kingston, assists a student with his school work. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE NEW year has just started but the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) is ready and rearing to begin negotiating on behalf of its charges.
Salary negotiations, refunds of tuition fees for teachers who studied part time, and, more resources in schools are some of the key issues that the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) will be demanding from Government this year.
"We will be asking for 30 per cent in April 2006 and 25 per cent in the 2007/2008 academic year," said Ruel Reid, president of the JTA.
The JTA, which represents more than 20,000 teachers, reluctantly signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Government and trade unions in 2003, which resulted in a wage freeze. The MoU is expected to come to an end in March 2006.
Mr. Reid told The Sunday Gleaner that his organisation would be demanding a 30 per cent increase in the first year because inflation had been in double digits over the last year. He also noted that the increase was in keeping with the Government's commitment to increase teachers' salaries within 80 per cent of the market rate.
The JTA boss is maintaining that the Government needs to fulfil its promise and refund 50 per cent of tuition fees to teachers who studied without taking leave of absence.
"We are insisting that the minimum be $500,000 (refund) for each teacher and we are not going to be backing down from that," Mr. Reid said firmly.
"This issue needs to be resolved prior to the commitment of any new salary negotiations or even a contemplation of any successor agreement to the current MoU," added the JTA president.
Mr. Reid told The Sunday Gleaner that he would also be lobbying for the creation of a trained graduate scale for teachers with a master's degree.
According to him, teachers who upgrade themselves and earn a master's degree are only given about a $2,000 increase in their salary.
The president said this money is not encouraging for teachers and an increase is important as there needs to be more specialised educators in the education system.
OTHER ISSUES that the JTA will be lobbying for this year.
* All schools be provided with guidance
counsellors and a counsellor-student ratio of 1 : 30.
* All schools to be provided with nurses, clerical and teaching assistants.
* Government to implement minimum standards in terms of resources, class sizes and environmental conditions.
