Byron McDaniel, Gleaner Writer

HENRY

Walderston, Manchester:

Hopeton Henry president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA), has described the regional leadership in the Ministry of Education and Youth as weak and lacking innovation.

The JTA head, who was addressing a luncheon of the Man-chester Chamber of Commerce at the Golf View Hotel in Mandeville last week, said what the education system needs is leadership that inspires, motivates and is strategic. The regional leadership in the ministry, he said, tends to be more reactive than proactive.

"Quite a lot of us working in that sector really collect taxpayers' money under false pretences," Mr. Henry said.

Turning to an incident which occurred at the Woodlands Primary School in Manchester, on October 26, when two girls fell into the pit of a dilapidated toilet and were injured, Henry said the parents of the girls should sue the Government.

In his wide-ranging address, the JTA president also said there were 31 offshore unregulated universities operating in the island without local accreditation.

The subject of teachers being forced to retire at age 60, he said, robs the education system of some of its best teachers, who are able-bodied and physically fit to continue. This matter, he said, is being addressed by the JTA.