IT IS unfortunate that the Government and the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) could not have settled their dispute over the timing of payment of outstanding arrears before the start, today, of the new school year.

As it is, the JTA is to meet with conciliators at the labour ministry tomorrow. For now, therefore, the teachers' union has "put on hold" its threatened disruption of back-to-school activities "pending the outcome of Tuesday's meeting".

Nothing, therefore, is settled. There could, it seems, still be protests if the JTA continues to disagree with the Government's proposed timetable for the payment of the final tranche of the $8 billion owed from a move to bring the salaries of teachers to those for comparative jobs in the private sector.

We hope it does not come to that. Strikes, sick-outs or other forms of disruptions would not be in the interest of education, and it is doubtful to enhance the Government's ability to pay or credibly to offer a shorter timetable to meet the obligation. Strikes, too, would limit the contact time between teachers and students, compromising the ability of teachers to complete curricula, at a time when Jamaica desperately needs to improve outcomes in the classroom.

Although we doubt that the labour ministry can effectively deliver, apart from assuaging feelings and perhaps stroking egos, we hope for the best - a relatively smooth start to the school year, as well as for improved performances.

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