Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

The Jamaica Independent Schools Association (JISA) has expressed concern that the realignment of public sector teachers' salaries to 80 per cent of what obtains in the private sector could result in a mass exodus of educators from the private system.

At the same time, the association is seeking to meet with the Government to discuss ways in which it could help private schools which are struggling financially.

"We need to look at if JISA starts closing doors what would happen to the education system," Basil Tabannor, president of JISA, told The Gleaner yesterday, adding that the compliance rate for private school fees was about 70 per cent.

He declined to make suggestions as to how the administration could help, noting that the options would be explored when JISA meets the Government.

Moderate increase

Tabannor said the association was trying to meet with the ministry before this school term ends in December.

The independent schools association president said the body was expecting a moderate increase in the salaries of public sector teachers, but with the raise more than expected, Tabannor fears that quality teachers would soon leave the classrooms of the more than 500 private schools islandwide for the public school system.

Tabannor, who is the head of Willowdene Group of Schools in St Catherine, said private school teachers are now paid "slightly" more than what the Government currently pays public sector teachers.

But public sector teachers are to get an increase in December.

According to Tabannor, one of his members called him, saying she was struggling to pay her teachers, among other things, and could not ask parents to pay higher school fees.

The Government recently purchased the property on which the privately run Hydel Group of Schools is situated.

Saved students

Prime Minister Bruce Golding said had the Government not bought the property, the students of Hydel, which is operated by Government Senator Hyacinth Bennett, would have been displaced.

Tabannor said he was encouraged by Prime Minister Golding's statements.

"There is definitely a dilemma. It is a service that the Government cannot pay for, and we save the Government billions of dollars each year," he said.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com

'There is definitely a dilemma. It is a service that the Government cannot pay for and we save the Government billions of dollars each year.'