Letter of the Day - Teacher migration and the JTA

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I WRITE to commend the Jamaica Teachers' Association Education & Research Committee on their feature article of Thursday June 21, 2001 'Migration - A Teachers View'.

Over the years I have never been one to admire the JTA. On the contrary, my opinion of the organisation is that it has generally behaved like a compliant servant of government, bereft of visionary and strong leadership that can truly represent the cause of teachers and an enhanced Jamaican education system.

In the current case I commend the organisation for commenting objectively and accurately on a situation which has largely developed from poor national education management that has forced teachers to finally be aggressively looking out for their own well being. As one who has followed quite closely, and researched education policy in Jamaica and the Caribbean, I must say that the JTA commentary really suggests that the organisation does have its hands on the pulse of this one.

Problem however, is that since the Michael Manley government of the 1970s, no one listens to anyone on these matters of national imperative. They who control national resources pay no attention to anything that does not visibly represent a prescription for short-term gain of electoral votes, unless of course the voices are from the inner sanctum of the political party, or from otherwise confessed and favoured political sympathisers.

The result is that real developmental issues advanced from credible quarters, forever gets sidelined until crisis situations develop. It is then that hurried patchwork will be attempted. No wonder my country just cannot seem to ever get it right. Yet, I feel guilty saying that, because I know that many of us Jamaicans, both the well-tutored and those with just good common sense, know just what is required. However, our non-alignment to political parties and power-brokering brotherhood setups have rendered us completely impotent to act effectively. I have no doubt that some day the education system in Jamaica will begin garnering the attention and resources it needs to make it work. However, I don't believe that will happen under this government or even the next, unless the current political setup is completely disembowelled.

I wish my departing colleague professionals Godspeed and good fortune in foreign lands.

I am etc.,

BERRIS MORRISON

Social Policy Analyst & Researcher

E-mail: sirreb@yahoo.com

19 Centre Strip

Acadia, Kingston 8

Via Go-Jamaica

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