Letter of the Day | Pay the teachers better

THE EDITOR, Madam:

There is growing concern about teachers’ salaries. Entry-level, untrained teachers cannot afford to live on a salary of J$154,262.76 after tax.

Because of this low income, they also cannot afford the certification required to become trained teachers, purchase a car to transport themselves safely to and from work, or buy NHT houses on the market today.

The cost of commuting to and from work each month can amount to, on an average, $47,000, depending on various factors. That is almost a third of their salary, not to mention the cost of food and utilities. This does not make the profession a feasible one to enter or remain in. The situation is that dire. Because of this, teachers are forced to change professions or leave the country to work elsewhere.

Jamaican teachers are tasked with the mammoth responsibility of educating the country’s next generation. They should not be struggling to eat, unable to transport themselves from home to work, taking buses or begging for rides while a lot of people drive past them on the road. One teacher described the situation as “being in the poorhouse”.

However, teachers should be among the best-paid professionals on the island. The increase in teachers’ salaries must be implemented, or Jamaica will have no one to guide and nurture the minds of the next generation.

OBSERVANT CITIZEN