A teacher may enjoy certain benefits while employed in the teaching service. Among these benefits are LEAVE which may be classified as ‘rights’ or ‘privileges.’
LEAVE
| Rights |
Privileges |
| Sick |
Vacation |
| Casual |
Study |
| Maternity |
Special |
1) Sick Leave
Sick leave is granted to a teacher based on continuous service
| Continuous Service |
Duration of Sick Leave1980 (Act) |
Duration of Sick LeaveNew Entrants01.09.03 |
| 3 months |
5 days full pay |
--- |
| 6 months |
5 days full pay and 5 days half pay |
5 working days full pay |
| 12 months |
10 days full pay and 10 days half pay |
7 working days full pay7 working days half pay |
| 2 years but less than 5 years |
20 days full pay and20 days half pay |
15 working days full pay15 working days half pay |
| 5 years and over |
40 days full pay and 40 days half pay |
28 working days full pay 28 working days half pay |
2) Casual Leave
A Board may grant leave on full pay to any teacher for short periods not exceeding three working days at a time or for not more than twelve days for teachers employed to the service before September 1, 2003. *New entrants to the service are entitled to nine days.
(Note: *The term ‘new entrants’ as used in this document refers to teachers who joined the service after September, 1, 2003)
The teacher is expected to give prior notification to the school authority of his/her intention to access casual leave. Where this is not possible, the school should be contacted as soon as possible.
3) Maternity Leave
Maternity leave is granted to teachers who are absent from work because of pregnancy or confinement.
A teacher who is permanently employed or has been in a temporary acting or provisional position continuously for not less than fifty-two week is entitled to two months maternity leave with pay. A teacher is entitled to maternity leave for no more than three pregnancies
.A teacher may use her vacation leave to which she is entitled to supplement maternity leave with full pay.
4) Vacation Leave
A teacher who is recommended by the Board of a public educational institution and with the approval of the Minister be granted vacation leave of one school term if:
i) He/she is a permanently employed Principal in a public educational institution for not less than four years immediately preceding the commencement of the term, or
ii) Other categories of permanently employed teachers who have served in public educational institutions for not less than five continuous years immediately preceding the commencement of the leave
Vacation leave for which a teacher is eligible may be applied for to supplement a request for maternity, sick or study leave with pay.
5) Study Leave
A teacher who has been accepted by a University or any other institution recognized by the Minister to pursue a course of full-time study may be granted study leave.
The teacher must:
i) be a Jamaican citizen or domiciled in Jamaica for five or more years;
ii) enrol in a course of study directly related to his work as a teacher;
iii) be recommended by the Board of the institution.
In order for a teacher to be granted study leave, he must have not less than two consecutive years of service. However, where a teacher has ten years of continuous service and has not accessed study leave within that period, he may qualify for two years study leave on full pay. He should also be permanently employed and must show evidence of acceptance by the institution.
Conditions of Leave
i) A teacher may not proceed on leave (study/vacation) unless notification in writing is received from the Ministry;
ii) The teacher is obliged to indicate to the Ministry, through the Board, of the date of resumption at the end of any period of leave;
iii) The teacher in receipt of study leave may not change the programme of study or the institution for which the leave was granted unless prior approval is obtained from the Ministry.
Prepared by:
Members’ Service Unit
October 2004
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