Calling the JTA Cat

[Wahalla]

Part 2
HOLDING THE SYSTEM HOSTAGE
Based on its mission, the JTA simply promotes education interests in Jamaica rather than hold itself accountable for national education performance. I am sure President Hall does not take accountability for the disastrous performance of education; instead, he takes accountability for the well-being of teachers.
It is against that background that I do not believe that JTA should have pride of place in national education policy development or even pride of place on the Teachers' Services Commission (TSC). Here is an organisation which, among other things, recommends appointments of principals and vice-principals to the minister of education. The act gives the minister full authority to appoint the chairman and gives the JTA six positions on the council.
Having disagreed with then Education Minister Andrew Holness' appointment of Alphansus Davis (past JTA president and then adviser to the minister) to be chairman, the JTA used its muscle by withdrawing its six appointees from attending meetings of the commission.
With their withdrawal, there were no quorums and, consequently, no appointment of principals and vice-principals for a very long time. In other words, the JTA held the entire education system hostage, contributing to the continued poor performance of the education system. I believe that no single body should have this seemingly unbridled power and strongly
I suggest Minister Thwaites reconsider balancing the membership of the TSC.
STUDY LEAVE
There was a time when improving one's professional status, a teacher needed time-off as the courses available were full-time and only offered during the day. The granting of one year fully paid study leave was reasonable then. However, with the advent of online, evening and choices from far more institutions, this is no longer necessary.
In fact, every other professional upgrades himself/herself in the manner above even without the luxury of eight weeks school downtime in the summer. It is now high time that the JTA be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century.
The disgraceful national education performance cannot continue unabated. The two most impactful institutions in this regard are the JTA and the Ministry of Education. The JTA needs to realise that although it is a trade union, it must be held accountable for the performance of national education outcomes, recognise that the world is changing, and transform itself accordingly.
While being respectful to the JTA, civil society must lend its voice and support to the efforts being made by Minister Thwaites to catalyse that transformation.
Finally, Minister Thwaites and Permanent Secretary Elaine Foster-Allen must now turn the spotlight on the ministry, as it, too, needs to transform itself to drive improvement in national education outcomes.

[Wahalla]

part 1



Clayton Hall, president of the JTA.

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Drag teachers kicking and screaming into the 21st century
Robert Wynter , Contributor
The Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) is, for all intents and purposes, a trade union with a teacher-centred purpose. Its mission is clear: "A democratic organisation responsible for the enhancement and protection of the economic welfare, professional development and personal well-being of its members and the promotion of the education interests of the country of Jamaica."
The Ministry of Education's (MOE's) student-centred mission is also very clear: "To provide strategic leadership and policy direction for quality education for all Jamaicans to maximise their potential, contribute to national development and compete effectively in the global economy."
It is no surprise, therefore, that there have been conflicts between the two organisations.
For many years, the JTA has held a privileged status well beyond its relative importance and its accountability. For instance, parents outnumber teachers nearly 40:1, yet they are not involved in monthly meetings with senior ministry officials, as is the JTA.
With the importance of education in national life, with a large share of the national Budget, with continued poor student performance while certain conditions of service for teachers remain out of touch with reality,Minister of Education Ronald Thwaites believes enough is enough and has displayed the necessary testicular fortitude to bell the proverbial cat.
I strongly suggest that the JTA accept the belling graciously; bearing in mind the unmet needs of the students and the country's tight fiscal space.
In his maiden Sectoral Debate presentation last year, Minister Thwaites declared that education is not a social ministry; rather, it is an investment ministry. He then posed the questions: How do we improve the quality of education and how do we extract value from the $74 billion spent by Government?
Central to his own response was that: "Transformation had started, but now it must be strengthened with fixity of purpose."
One year later, with a signed IMF agreement and a public-sector wagefreeze, the education minister came to Parliament reminding us of the current crisis. Minister Thwaites spoke frankly and passionately, describing "secondary education outcomes as a disgrace". He reminded us of some cold, hard facts that most of us want to forget. "Approximately 50 per cent of the secondary cohort leave with a certificate of attendance and a pretty picture of cap and gown. Most knock on the doors of HEART where three-quarters cannot be admitted because their literacy and numeracy do not reach the modest grade-nine level".
Terming this a disastrous situation, the minister, with his promised fixity of purpose, declared, "We must not hide from it; we are determined to fix it. This is a call to action!"
IMF DEAL EDUCATION COMPONENT
In Section 39 of Jamaica's Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies (aka, the IMF agreement) titled 'Spending on education will also be made more efficient and effective', strategies include mandatory retirement and reforming the current study leave policies to take account of the new hiring policy; and restructuring the current scholarship programmes into separate need-based and merit-based components.
Prior to his Sectoral presentation, Minister Thwaites consulted with the hierarchy of the JTA, as confirmed by President Clayton Hall, the latter noting that there was no agreement by the JTA. However, when the matter of leave was announced in Parliament, all hell broke loose as teachers believed they were short-changed by the Government that promised them no reduction in benefits during the wage freeze.
The teachers also felt they were short-changed by their own hierarchy, as President Hall meekly admitted to the consultations. In flexing its muscles, the JTA announced that it has suspended all talks with the minister until parish consultations are held. When asked on Nationwide Evening News by Cliff Hughes why he had suspended talks with the minister, Mr Hall could only mumble an incoherent answer: We now await the outcome of the parish consultations.
The latest teacher rebellion has taken on an even more aggressive tone. Last Friday, the St Elizabeth Teachers' Association, a chapter of the JTA, has called Minister Thwaites a modern-day "Backra Massa" and accused him of "acting in a manner as if he has assumed the mantle of kingship and is a law unto himself".
The St Elizabeth teachers have also urged the JTA to "withdraw its standing invitation to the minister of education to address the annual conference in August 2013 and that the JTA extends the invitation to the prime minister of Jamaica".
DISGRACEFUL OUTCOMES
The Task Force Report on Education Reform indicated that in 2003, only 11.5 per cent of the nation's grade 11 cohort achieved five CXC passes, including English and math.
The transformation plan designed was expected to drive this figure to 60 per cent by 2015. The fact that in 2012, only 14.6 per cent had been achieved means that although 75 per cent of the transformation time had elapsed, only 6.4 per cent of the performance gap has been closed. This confirms the minister's assertion that secondary education performance is a disgrace.
It is beyond doubt that teachers, in general, and the JTA, in particular, can positively impact the performance of the education system. While other factors are important such as parental involvement, ministry policy, societal influence, and student apathy, a school must develop strategies to overcome any challenges facing a student.
The fact that our education performance is so poor suggests that either teacher influence is not as great as it is made out to be OR the overall performance of teachers, and by extension the JTA, is not as great as they make it out to be.

[Tuff Gong]

I like it that the Comrade JTA is at war with Comrade Ronnie Flakes. I am making PapCaan!

[blugiant]

wahalla so wat yuh issue widd da jta? sund like yuh a try fe blame dem fe test score ann evereetinn wrang widd ja school. realitee iss dat dem iss juss a likkle part aff da miseducatesham systems ann babylon system raddar dan change luv fe blame miseducators wen moas aff da misedukkators a fallaw dbabylon systems rules

[Wahalla]

wahalla so wat yuh issue widd da jta? sund like yuh a try fe blame dem fe test score ann evereetinn wrang widd ja school. realitee iss dat dem iss juss a likkle part aff da miseducatesham systems ann babylon system raddar dan change luv fe blame miseducators wen moas aff da misedukkators a fallaw dbabylon systems rules

R u happy with the performance of the Jamaican teachers ?

last year less than 11 % of the cohort got 5 or more CSCE passes... and of the those that took the exam less than 22 % had qualifications in maths and english.... One is a systemic issue, one is a teaching issue....Either they are not qualified or they are incompetent... Teachers should be focused on getting children educated and passing these exams...JTA is a union... not focused on educating children...

Jamaica it strikes me is teaching children by looking in the mirror... not the future..

Last year there was a case in point where a school board selected a lady from outside to one of the high schools in Central STE... A teacher who seemed to be in his own mind the prime candidate for a failing school sued the board, cause ructions and cast aspersions on the candidate... JTA supported their favorite...And there was a teaching representative on the school board!

Sorry but I heard the speech... that was a showboat for a self centered self agridizing pompous self important popping jay....The ministry does not have the resources to cover the leave requirements that has been questioned. To me MOE seems to want to improve the teaching and deployment of resources a nescisity long over due. and given the finacial climate.

I know your support the teaching of Garveyism... the JTA members can barely teach maths and English to a basic level of competency...How will they teach such a more complex nuanced subject that covers physcology, History, Sociology, comparative politics...?

Ruel Reid a past president present the JTA case which is it was an agreement that the MOE are wanting to change. But he is the principal of JC (a relatively well funded school with NGO support from Alumni as well as access to put pressure on the goverment) and he made the point this year he may not be able to send his teachers on stautatory "Vacation-Leave" much less on study leave. because the minister has not covered the extra costs. For once I dont beleive the Minister has resources and wont deploy... but one thing I am certain is that if JC is being held short of fund for this leave entitlement then a primary school or basic school where I grew up far from the center of power, with litte influnce will be certainly starved of this....

But calling the minister a "Mongrel" in an aggressive by the representative of a head of an organisation who's prime function is to educate the young, prepare them for the next generation. It is often highlighted that there is a change in pschye of Jamaica and we have become more agressive in how we deal with conflict. This from a case in point..

[blugiant]

R u happy with the performance of the Jamaican teachers ?

last year less than 11 % of the cohort got 5 or more CSCE passes... and of the those that took the exam less than 22 % had qualifications in maths and english.... One is a systemic issue, one is a teaching issue....Either they are not qualified or they are incompetent... Teachers should be focused on getting children educated and passing these exams...JTA is a union... not focused on educating children...

Jamaica it strikes me is teaching children by looking in the mirror... not the future..

Last year there was a case in point where a school board selected a lady from outside to one of the high schools in Central STE... A teacher who seemed to be in his own mind the prime candidate for a failing school sued the board, cause ructions and cast aspersions on the candidate... JTA supported their favorite...And there was a teaching representative on the school board!

Sorry but I heard the speech... that was a showboat for a self centered self agridizing pompous self important popping jay....The ministry does not have the resources to cover the leave requirements that has been questioned. To me MOE seems to want to improve the teaching and deployment of resources a nescisity long over due. and given the finacial climate.

I know your support the teaching of Garveyism... the JTA members can barely teach maths and English to a basic level of competency...How will they teach such a more complex nuanced subject that covers physcology, History, Sociology, comparative politics...?

Ruel Reid a past president present the JTA case which is it was an agreement that the MOE are wanting to change. But he is the principal of JC (a relatively well funded school with NGO support from Alumni as well as access to put pressure on the goverment) and he made the point this year he may not be able to send his teachers on stautatory "Vacation-Leave" much less on study leave. because the minister has not covered the extra costs. For once I dont beleive the Minister has resources and wont deploy... but one thing I am certain is that if JC is being held short of fund for this leave entitlement then a primary school or basic school where I grew up far from the center of power, with litte influnce will be certainly starved of this....

But calling the minister a "Mongrel" in an aggressive by the representative of a head of an organisation who's prime function is to educate the young, prepare them for the next generation. It is often highlighted that there is a change in pschye of Jamaica and we have become more agressive in how we deal with conflict. This from a case in point..

da joke iss dem sed da same ting iss nyc cah aff oww dem use test score fe stigmatized students ann teachers wild ignore da issue da ja teachers ar underpaid ann widdout qwestianinn da tests. tell mii y inn nyc wen dem slightlee raised da teachers salary wild increasinn da qualification fah teachinn license da students test score didd natt dramaticallee improved. awl dat fe oww iss da perfarmance aff da teachers being judge ann test score alone iss natt addeeqquate


y yuh tink imm merikka sum aff da iighest rated schools ar refusinn to fall inna dat test trap. mekk mii ask yuh da underlieinn qwestian do yuh reallee beeleeve dat onlee 11 percent woo pass da test master dem subject matter. realitee iss dat blakk yuths ave more test anxiety

wass da outside person dem selected better qualified fe da jab. tink bout diss da skill needed fe dose new subject deal more widd criticall tinkinn dan memorizinn. memorizinn iss better fe passinn tests like csce

awl mii seyinn iss dat de goal iss natt fe educate jamaicans yuths fe tink criticallee butt fe train dem fe memorized so dem caan bee easilee cantrolled

[Wahalla]

da joke iss dem sed da same ting iss nyc cah aff oww dem use test score fe stigmatized students ann teachers wild ignore da issue da ja teachers ar underpaid ann widdout qwestianinn da tests. tell mii y inn nyc wen dem slightlee raised da teachers salary wild increasinn da qualification fah teachinn license da students test score didd natt dramaticallee improved. awl dat fe oww iss da perfarmance aff da teachers being judge ann test score alone iss natt addeeqquate

Let me be blunt... I dont care of new york.....That has nothing to do with the issue of Teaching in Jamaica. New York has wealth and power and a spend that if it was applied pro rata would increase the Jamaica spend probably ten times per student ....that is a local yanki bizness goverment...

Jamaica needs to do something different with its spend.... What was negoiated in the 80#s does not apply in terms of studying...

If the tests are marked or not relevant in Jamaica then Y havent the teachers highlighted this __?????? The JTA have regular meetings with the MOE. And the MOE consults them on policy. Parents dont have this organised access.... The CSCE was designed by educators including members of the JTA... They are consulted in its design and its sylabus. I also beleive a number of its members are involved in its grading ..and has been in place for over thirty years. And in this time the pass rate has been more or less static.. With falling in critical subjects... The idea of changing to a yanki style of diplomas is floated.. Yet is shut down for the simple reason that as the Minister put it truthfully all the students get is a nice picture and a valueless peice of paper that gives no real indication of the students strength and weakness. As a graduation certificate of attendance would under classify the students.

Most students are moved through a system and leave under educated...With a constant complaint as they pass from one stage to the other, they fail to meet the most basic requirements. After all all the relative increase spend in education, the literacy rate is as it was thirty years ago _?????

Programs like HEART complain they have to have remedial basic lessons for students who have gone through 10 years of school and UWI has had to increase resources to have basic English and Maths to the extent they have complained about the quality.......


I am no educators but the JTA is a union and its wasted its currency and influence in the halls of power...

And if u teach some one to think critically but you have to have the basic foundation of language and maths.... That is not happening in Jamaica.Jamaica education is under resourced for its intention.... And teachers are the means of culling... My point is that after 50 years of independence.. 11 or 12 % of a annual cohort with average quantifiable acheivement of 5 or more subjects is not accepatble.. as bad taste if teaching in Jamaica was a business it is a failure... I believe that Jamaica is the lowest or second lowest achievement in countries that subscribe to the CSCE model....Teachers are in part responsible...

For god sake the MOE has had to send out directives to cut out the waste resource in graduation ceremonies for basic primary and secondary.... where parents are forced to invest in all the single time use paraphernalia...That came from the MOE not the teachers... Last year comments about pregnancy buy a female head teacher, this year the blanket statement by the JTA that teachers should not intervene in disputes. they are a bunch of petty Hitlers it seems ....

This is not a money issue this is a teaching issue. Had the JTA demonstrated that the extra study leave brings up test scores we would have a quantifiable return on investment and a contarty argument against the MOE. But the level of attainment by an independent assesor would show that despite all the study leave there has been minimal impact on the... what was the JTA resistance.. Using race ???? Mongrel dog argument which is in the school yard and name calling is something part of the learning experience should discourage...

As the ibo saying

a Calf watches its mother eat grass...!