Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

DIXON

Incoming president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA), Doran Dixon, says auxiliary fees for schools will be one of the major challenges he will have to grapple with, as he takes up the mantle of leadership for the 22,000-member strong organisation.

Dixon, who is the 2007/2008 president-elect of the JTA, will be sworn in as president next Monday at the association's 44th annual conference to be held in Ocho Rios, St Ann.

According to Dixon, the damage control as it relates to auxiliary fees was not as effective as the JTA would have wanted it to be.

He noted that the JTA has constantly encouraged the Government to provide as much funds as possible to schools, adding that if this was done, auxiliary fees would not have been a major issue now.

"Schools are only able to treat with some of the extra things they do because they have additional money," Dixon told The Gleaner.

Not mandatory

The Government, which began paying school fees for students last year, has been stressing that auxiliary fees are not mandatory. However, school administrators say it is important that they collect these fees, which help to pay bills, among other things.

He noted that a major discussion about the issue was needed at the level of the Parent Teachers' Association.

Meanwhile, the incoming president said he was looking forward to his one-year tenure in office and that he intends to continue the work of the organisation.

Awesome feeling

"It is really an awesome feeling and an awesome responsibility," said Dixon, who is a graduate of Norman Manley High School.

Dixon said one of his first duties as president was to bring the payment and conditions of service for teachers to a successful conclusion. A study is currently being conducted to bring salaries of teachers in the public service to 80 per cent of comparable positions in the private sector.

The incoming president, who is principal lecturer in the Department of Social Studies at The Mico University College, said he would also focus on the tertiary level. He also intends to increase the membership of the JTA by close to 100 per cent.

Dixon said that, as president, he would continue the JTA's professional development activities.

This year's focus, he said, would be on tertiary accreditation.

Michael Stewart, president-designate of the JTA, will be sworn in as the 2008/2009 president-elect of the association Monday night.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com