By Deon Green, Freelance Writer
Members of the teaching fraternity at a function in Kingston last year. - File
LONDON:
TEACHERS IN the United Kingdom (UK) have been granted a big wage increase which will take effect on April 1.
Education Secretary Estelle Morris is reported to have said the increase of 3.5 per cent on basic wages in an overall package amounting to a 30 per cent increase, is part of the UK's mission to recruit and retain quality teachers as well as to improve the standard in schools.
Under the new wage agreement, starting salary for teachers will be in excess of £17,500 (J$1.18 million) annually up to a maximum of over £28,000 ($1.8 million). Principals can earn over £90,000 ($6 million) annually.
Schools can further improve the packages based on the quality of the teachers, the standard of the school and on examination results.
The wage increase could have significant impact on the Jamaican education system, as recruitment agencies will be presenting potential teachers from the island with a more attractive package.
Time Plan, a recruitment agency, will be in Jamaica in July to recruit teachers. Geoff Brown, managing director of Time Plan's southern regional office in Yorkshire, told The Gleaner recently that other offices from his agency have their recruitment plan and could implement them at any time.
Last year, 500 teachers were recruited from Jamaica for British and American classrooms. Reports indicate that the New York Education Board will also be recruiting teachers from Jamaica later this year.
Further to the wage package, other benefits will be offered to Jamaican teachers. The Time Plan director told The Gleaner that under a bi-lateral agreement between the governments of Jamaica and England, the Jamaican teachers recruited will pay no taxes for two years, allowing them to receive 25 per cent more in wages than their British counterparts.
Brown says the teachers are not being stolen from the Jamaican classrooms, as they are expected to return home after two years. He adds that the process actually benefits Jamaica as it provides more in- service training for the teachers. There is no guarantee that the teachers will return, but those who do not will be required to pay the two-year tax relief that they enjoyed.
The United Kingdom is reported to be experiencing the worst teacher crisis in 35 years with a significant amount of trained teachers leaving the classroom after only one year. Low wages, too much paper work, indiscipline among children and their inability to afford housing are among the main contributors to the crisis, all of which are now being addressed.
Under the reforms, students are now being expelled if they are caught with offensive weapons such as knives.
