Dear Editor,
During the last re-classification exercise, all teachers were awarded a special teachers' allowance which would bring their salaries to 80 per cent of the market rate. This special allowance was given according to the teacher's level of qualification. The work experience teachers are no exception. These teachers were paid this sum of money over a seven-year period.
The work experience teacher's job description is to seek organisations that would be willing to admit fifth form students into their businesses to get practical experience in their vocation area. The teachers must supervise the students and coordinate the whole programme. The Ministry of Education has mandated that the upgraded high schools and technical schools thoroughly prepare their youngsters for the world of work. The ministry has appointed these teachers to do the job. One of the requirements is that the teacher owns a motor car. Over the years, these teachers have been given a stipend to offset the cost of fuel and general maintenance of their privately owned vehicle. I must point out that this stipend is $28,604 monthly. Given the high cost of living, and fuel especially, this is just a drop in the bucket.
The Ministry of Education is now saying that this stipend should be used to top up work experience teachers' salaries to 80 per cent of the market rate. Hence these teachers are asked to pay back the sum of over a million
dollars each.
I think the public must know the truth before they judge these teachers who are already subsidising the programme they coordinate. I totally agree with Mr Smith that it should not be paid back, and I would add that the teachers should continue to receive the special teachers' allowance to bring them on par with other categories of teachers with
similar qualifications.
Jacky Brown
jab552011@hotmail.com
The truth about the 'overpayment' to teachers
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During the last re-classification exercise, all teachers were awarded a special teachers' allowance which would bring their salaries to 80 per cent of the market rate. This special allowance was given according to the teacher's level of qualification. The work experience teachers are no exception. These teachers were paid this sum of money over a seven-year period.
The work experience teacher's job description is to seek organisations that would be willing to admit fifth form students into their businesses to get practical experience in their vocation area. The teachers must supervise the students and coordinate the whole programme. The Ministry of Education has mandated that the upgraded high schools and technical schools thoroughly prepare their youngsters for the world of work. The ministry has appointed these teachers to do the job. One of the requirements is that the teacher owns a motor car. Over the years, these teachers have been given a stipend to offset the cost of fuel and general maintenance of their privately owned vehicle. I must point out that this stipend is $28,604 monthly. Given the high cost of living, and fuel especially, this is just a drop in the bucket.
The Ministry of Education is now saying that this stipend should be used to top up work experience teachers' salaries to 80 per cent of the market rate. Hence these teachers are asked to pay back the sum of over a million
dollars each.
I think the public must know the truth before they judge these teachers who are already subsidising the programme they coordinate. I totally agree with Mr Smith that it should not be paid back, and I would add that the teachers should continue to receive the special teachers' allowance to bring them on par with other categories of teachers with
similar qualifications.
Jacky Brown
jab552011@hotmail.com
The truth about the 'overpayment' to teachers
-->