Teachers and principals who fail to achieve literacy targets set by the Ministry of Education will be sanctioned as the Government moves to develop an accountability matrix.

Speaking last week during the Rotary Club of Downtown Kingston's weekly luncheon, Andrew Holness, minister of education, said his ministry planned to achieve 100 per cent literacy at the primary level in the next five years.

Accountability matrix

Holness explained to the gathering at the Hilton Kingston hotel that the accountability matrix, which is currently being developed, will include targets, sanctions and incentives. It is expected that this will be implemented in schools by next year.

If teachers and principals failed to achieve targets, Holness said the ministry would conduct a review.

"If it was due to lack of effort or dereliction, then sanctions will apply," Holness told reporters following the luncheon.

Sanctions and rewards

He noted that teachers would be sanctioned, for example, if there were a problem with their attendance rate.

At the same time, Holness said teachers who perform well would be rewarded.

The education minister said students would not be allowed to leave primary school until they are literate.

He noted that while the policy might earn the wrath of some parents who want their children to advance, it would be in the public interest.