Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter

JUDGING from the numerous advertisements in the media and contacts made with schools, there seems to be a serious demand for teachers of mathematics, physics, biology and chemistry.

Senator Noel Monteith, State Minister in the Ministry of Education, told The Gleaner that while a formal report has not been made to the ministry, there seems to be an exodus of some teachers.

"Usually, we have enough teachers for subjects like English and social studies but we normally experience some difficulty in getting mathematics and science teachers. We have not had a direct report to the ministry of any mass migration but I have heard that in Manchester a few teachers have left. It is not the same in other areas," Senator Monteith said.

Posted advertisements

Over the past weeks, several schools have posted advertisements in the media for teachers of mathematics, the sciences and Spanish. Among these schools are Kingston College, Morant Bay High, Holland High, Holy Trinity High and Dinthill High.

Some schools, meanwhile, have reported that there is no shortage of teachers in any subject area. Muschette High School in St. James, for example has said that although they advertised for teachers, the intention was to fill vacancies which opened up due to staff going on vacation leave.

Meanwhile, it is not just vacation leave that triggers a movement of teachers from classrooms.

Low, unattractive salary

One mathematics teacher who advertised private lessons in The Gleaner said low and unattractive salary is the main factor leading to the exodus of mathematics and science teachers from the classrooms.

"The salary (in public schools) is not attractive. I have been a teacher for nearly 15 years but the salary cannot hold. I just had to call it a day," the teacher said.

He said it is not just for the money that people go private. Colleges of his, he said, branch off into other jobs but because of the love for teaching, they dedicate time to private lessons.

Senator Monteith agrees that low salaries being paid to teachers in the public schools are driving people away. He said that in recent times the Government has made extra effort to attract people to the professions, especially in the areas of mathematics and the sciences. What Senator Monteith speaks of is an intensive scheme where the ministry offers scholarships to people pursuing studies in these areas.