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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">From Cayman Net News
The Educators Conditions of Service Taskforce have found that there is a great need for the recruitment of more Caymanians in the profession of teaching.
The report, which was recently tabled in the Legislative Assembly, was produced by a group of twelve educators selected by Minister of Education Hon Alden McLaughlin to undertake an assessment of various key conditions existing in the Cayman Islands Government education system.
The task force found that there was a significant challenge in recruiting and retaining young Caymanian educators, which was due to uncompetitive salaries and poor working conditions within the system.
“Entry-level salaries for educators with a bachelor’s degree and a teaching diploma are not competitive enough when compared with salaries for similar level qualifications in the business sector,” said the report.
It was observed that a large number of young Caymanian teachers have left the profession to take up education and teaching roles within the business sector as these provided more competitive salaries. This, according to the study, was the main reason many young Caymanian professionals were either, not attracted to, or left the teaching industry.
The taskforce also reported that Caymanian teachers were “dissatisfied with poor surroundings and inappropriate responsibilities.”The survey found that working conditions have a great impact on the morale of both teachers and students and “where working conditions are satisfactory, a positive and productive working environment is created. Based on the feedback from educators on the committee, the condition of facilities and classroom practices needed considerable attention.”
Various areas of assessment included staff facilities, teachers’ responsibilities, security of property and the safety and security of the teachers.
The report showed that many teachers were concerned about their safety because, over the years, many have suffered physical injury as a result of both direct attacks and/or intervening between fighting students.
Additionally, teachers have had their cars and other personal property damaged by students in the past and, despite requests for compensation, none was actually given.
Teachers have also said that they were being asked to perform tasks outside of their job descriptions. In some instances teachers are required to supervise children after school, as parents often leave students at school until the end of the workday.
Also, the report noted that there is a lack of an adequate substitution system, as educators are usually asked to cover for absent colleagues, which takes away from their preparation time and non-contact time.
With this in mind, the team recommended that the Government consider “the creation of a fast-tracking system for potential high school educators with less than five years experience in education.”
“This system would allow for greater salary increments in teachers’ earlier in education, ensuring more competitive remuneration with the ultimate intention of greater retention of educators,” the report says.
Additionally, the taskforce has proposed that the present conditions of school facilities and various classroom practices be addressed. There should be a clear distinction in the job descriptions of educators so that they are able to concentrate on their key functions, which should be teaching and learning.
“Job descriptions should assign responsibilities unrelated to teaching to facilities management and administration, so that educators may focus on delivering quality education to their pupils,” said the report.
The report also noted several other changes to be made within the government school system, such as remuneration, benefits and employment terms.
The survey provided some valuable direct feedback from Cayman Islands’ educators and highlighted the urgent need for increased communication between Government and teachers in the areas of benefits and entitlements.
The research provided some justification for higher salaries for educators; however, evidence of a relationship between the pay and quality of educators and outcomes for students were deemed to be inconclusive worldwide.
Overall, the report found locally that educators are most concerned about feeling valued, having opportunities to develop, and trusting their employer, in this case, the Cayman Islands Government.
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...hmmm...it seemed okay for the expatriates...wonder what changed...[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70402-thinking.gif[/img]
The Educators Conditions of Service Taskforce have found that there is a great need for the recruitment of more Caymanians in the profession of teaching.
The report, which was recently tabled in the Legislative Assembly, was produced by a group of twelve educators selected by Minister of Education Hon Alden McLaughlin to undertake an assessment of various key conditions existing in the Cayman Islands Government education system.
The task force found that there was a significant challenge in recruiting and retaining young Caymanian educators, which was due to uncompetitive salaries and poor working conditions within the system.
“Entry-level salaries for educators with a bachelor’s degree and a teaching diploma are not competitive enough when compared with salaries for similar level qualifications in the business sector,” said the report.
It was observed that a large number of young Caymanian teachers have left the profession to take up education and teaching roles within the business sector as these provided more competitive salaries. This, according to the study, was the main reason many young Caymanian professionals were either, not attracted to, or left the teaching industry.
The taskforce also reported that Caymanian teachers were “dissatisfied with poor surroundings and inappropriate responsibilities.”The survey found that working conditions have a great impact on the morale of both teachers and students and “where working conditions are satisfactory, a positive and productive working environment is created. Based on the feedback from educators on the committee, the condition of facilities and classroom practices needed considerable attention.”
Various areas of assessment included staff facilities, teachers’ responsibilities, security of property and the safety and security of the teachers.
The report showed that many teachers were concerned about their safety because, over the years, many have suffered physical injury as a result of both direct attacks and/or intervening between fighting students.
Additionally, teachers have had their cars and other personal property damaged by students in the past and, despite requests for compensation, none was actually given.
Teachers have also said that they were being asked to perform tasks outside of their job descriptions. In some instances teachers are required to supervise children after school, as parents often leave students at school until the end of the workday.
Also, the report noted that there is a lack of an adequate substitution system, as educators are usually asked to cover for absent colleagues, which takes away from their preparation time and non-contact time.
With this in mind, the team recommended that the Government consider “the creation of a fast-tracking system for potential high school educators with less than five years experience in education.”
“This system would allow for greater salary increments in teachers’ earlier in education, ensuring more competitive remuneration with the ultimate intention of greater retention of educators,” the report says.
Additionally, the taskforce has proposed that the present conditions of school facilities and various classroom practices be addressed. There should be a clear distinction in the job descriptions of educators so that they are able to concentrate on their key functions, which should be teaching and learning.
“Job descriptions should assign responsibilities unrelated to teaching to facilities management and administration, so that educators may focus on delivering quality education to their pupils,” said the report.
The report also noted several other changes to be made within the government school system, such as remuneration, benefits and employment terms.
The survey provided some valuable direct feedback from Cayman Islands’ educators and highlighted the urgent need for increased communication between Government and teachers in the areas of benefits and entitlements.
The research provided some justification for higher salaries for educators; however, evidence of a relationship between the pay and quality of educators and outcomes for students were deemed to be inconclusive worldwide.
Overall, the report found locally that educators are most concerned about feeling valued, having opportunities to develop, and trusting their employer, in this case, the Cayman Islands Government.
</div></div>
...hmmm...it seemed okay for the expatriates...wonder what changed...[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70402-thinking.gif[/img]
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