Letter of the Day | How will teachers benefit by being licensed?

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The Jamaica Teaching Council (JTC) Bill has sparked wide ranging discussions. I have been a teacher for over 10 years and I admit that I have been hearing about the call for the licensing of teachers as far back as when I was leaving university years ago. Personally, I do not have a problem with teachers being licensed as it would raise the standard of the profession. However, there are some aspects of the JTC Bill that may be questionable.

My role today is to leave the aspects that are questionable to be debated by the Jamaica Teachers’ Association body and the powers that be. Instead, I want to look at the beneficiaries of teacher licensing. In other words, the expectation is that if teachers are licensed the professional standards will be improved, the education system will look good, students will learn better and parents will be proud of their child or children’s performance. My concern/ question is; what benefit does teacher licensing have for teachers? As a solution oriented person, I am wondering if the organisations related to enforcing the licensing of teachers are going to also align this with an improved physical and mental environment for licensed teachers to operate in?

The expectation is that teachers should maintain a standard to attain a license, but the questions I have are, is the environment in which teachers are asked to function conducive to teaching and learning? Does it create an ethos for teachers and students to be comfortable as they carry out the daily activities? Or, are teachers being asked to perform well in a resource lacking environment? I am in the classroom and the resources needed are lacking. As teachers and principals, we have had to be resourceful to raise funds to ensure students have the needed resources to use. Not to mention, that teachers are faced with students with social and behavioural challenges. In addition, classrooms are overcrowded and are not meeting the required teacher – student ratio. Thus, teachers are feeling drained.

The irony of this situation we now face is that teachers are constantly being asked to do more and they are paid less or given less benefits, yet, the expectation is that they should perform above and beyond with the little they are getting. Look at teachers who have done their master’s education – this too will soon be required for all teachers, yet, they get a reward of under $7000. May I add, that teachers are already feeling demotivated because many are working in the system for years and have not received letters of permanency and compensation in pay for working in management positions.

A good teacher will always work hard and teach selflessly, but many have done so at the risk of: their health, have less family time as they prepare and do tasks related to school and less finances. The call then, is for the JTC and the powers that be to show teachers the benefits of the JTC Bill/licensing not only to the education system but, also to them. With this approach, the teacher may become more accepting and informed about the benefits of this JTC Bill.

CONCERNED TEACHER