Dear Editor,
The recent pronouncement by the minister of education that teachers will no longer be eligible for study leave with pay has understandably sparked considerable debate and unease among teachers. After all, this is a long-standing benefit which teachers have relished to facilitate their career advancement. Alternatively, the minister has proposed that more teachers opt for part-time study and the online learning modalities. However, in my opinion, the minister's proposal is short-sighted as it comes across as being disjointed.
This view relates to the fact that there are many constraints to be overcome if his alternative is to become viable. These include, but are not limited to, the high cost of online study, the commuting distances of teachers to access learning centres, the neglect of students who may be left on their own as teachers leave to attend classes and exams, and the insensitivity of some principals to the career advancement of teachers.
As such, I propose the following amendments to the minister's proposal: establishment of a financing mechanism to enable teachers to gain access to online learning; establishment of an ICT platform that would enable all schools to improve connectivity as part of a wider thrust to develop an ICT-enabled education system; and the development of guidelines for a more structured approach to part-time study. For example, obtaining time off to study part time should not be left to the discretion of the school administration, and teachers who are pursuing part-time study should be facilitated through the structuring of their timetable to help them meet their study obligations.
Finally, I would urge the Government to review the leave entitlement for the entire public sector. Persons in every area of the public sector are entitled to leave with or without pay, so why is it that only teachers' leave is being revised? What about the other public sector workers? The economic constraints being faced by the Government and the need to generate greater efficiencies in public sector operations are both understood. However, this burden should not be carried by teachers alone. This will give an indication that the Government is serious about public sector reform.
Marisa McPherson
Boscobel PO
St Mary
marisadawkins@yahoo.com
Review leave entitlement for all public sector workers
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The recent pronouncement by the minister of education that teachers will no longer be eligible for study leave with pay has understandably sparked considerable debate and unease among teachers. After all, this is a long-standing benefit which teachers have relished to facilitate their career advancement. Alternatively, the minister has proposed that more teachers opt for part-time study and the online learning modalities. However, in my opinion, the minister's proposal is short-sighted as it comes across as being disjointed.
This view relates to the fact that there are many constraints to be overcome if his alternative is to become viable. These include, but are not limited to, the high cost of online study, the commuting distances of teachers to access learning centres, the neglect of students who may be left on their own as teachers leave to attend classes and exams, and the insensitivity of some principals to the career advancement of teachers.
As such, I propose the following amendments to the minister's proposal: establishment of a financing mechanism to enable teachers to gain access to online learning; establishment of an ICT platform that would enable all schools to improve connectivity as part of a wider thrust to develop an ICT-enabled education system; and the development of guidelines for a more structured approach to part-time study. For example, obtaining time off to study part time should not be left to the discretion of the school administration, and teachers who are pursuing part-time study should be facilitated through the structuring of their timetable to help them meet their study obligations.
Finally, I would urge the Government to review the leave entitlement for the entire public sector. Persons in every area of the public sector are entitled to leave with or without pay, so why is it that only teachers' leave is being revised? What about the other public sector workers? The economic constraints being faced by the Government and the need to generate greater efficiencies in public sector operations are both understood. However, this burden should not be carried by teachers alone. This will give an indication that the Government is serious about public sector reform.
Marisa McPherson
Boscobel PO
St Mary
marisadawkins@yahoo.com
Review leave entitlement for all public sector workers
-->