Downie
By Balford Henry, Staff Reporter
Public sector teachers are planning to fight the Government's redundancy plan, which seems finally to be in full gear.
Since last week, several teachers across the island have been receiving letters from the Ministry of Education and Culture "separating them from their posts."
Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA) general secretary Eric Downie confirmed yesterday that teachers have been pouring into the association's head office, Church Street, Kingston, since Friday, with copies of letters "separating" them from their jobs. He said that the worse case so far is at the Haile Selassie High School in South-west St. Andrew, where 13 of the approximately 70 teachers on staff have received these letters.
The cuts are part of a rationalisation programme announced by the Government earlier this year, which will eventually affect about 300 teachers. The cuts were expected to begin in early October and Minister of Education and Culture Senator Burchell Whiteman had said that they would go ahead, despite widespread opposition from the JTA. But, the Association started discussions with the Ministry aimed at an alternative solution.
Mr. Downie said that two weeks ago, the Ministry had "changed its outlook" and withdrew the first set of letters sent out to teachers. But, last week, another set of letters, with a different message but the same tone, were being received at the schools, again.
The new letters urge the teachers not to return to work after December 31 or at the end of current vacation leave periods. The notice lasts up to February, 2001.
"This thing is boiling up again and we're not going to take it lying down," Mr. Downie said. He said that the letters gave no reason for dismissing the teachers, other than overcrowding at the schools, and it could not be ascertained how those to be separated were chosen.
He said that the JTA, which represents some 20,000 teachers islandwide, would take the matter to the Privy Council in England if necessary. "Teachers are willing to contribute to this effort," he said.
Mr. Downie said that many of the teachers had become so fed up with their treatment, that they had decided to leave the schools whether they are separated or not, but wanted to fight the issue first as a matter of pride.
Attempts to get a response from the Ministry of Education and Culture yesterday were unsuccessful.
