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JAMAICA
TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION
97 CHURCH STREET
KINGSTON
SECRETARY
GENERAL’S REPORT TO CENTRAL EXECUTIVE
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER
27, 2002
1. Introduction
I wish to extend welcome
to all the members of Central Executive. Special welcome to our President,
Mrs. Sadie Comrie, Mr. Wentworth Gabbidon, President Elect and Mr. Paul Adams,
Immediate Past who are attending the first meeting of Central Executive in their
new capacities. Special welcome also to those colleagues who are sitting on
the Central Executive for the first time.
Your election to this
body shows the trust and confidence that your colleagues have in your ability
to represent their interests to the powers that be. This means that you have
to take your responsibilities seriously. You may not have another opportunity
to represent your colleagues so do all you have to do with all the energy
and abilities you possess.
This conference year promises
to be no less challenging than previous years. In fact, this year might be
the most challenging yet. What I am confident of is the fact that, as a body,
we have the ability to face all these challenges and overcome. This, however,
is going to require unified effort. We have to take our motto, Unite
and Serve, deep into our consciousness and allow it to drive our every
effort.
My confidence also rests
on the fact that our reliance is also on God and He always keeps His word.
So let us arise and go
up and build to benefit our members and the children of this Jamaica
Land We Love.
2. Salary
Negotiations
2.1 Third Quartile
Relationship
The committee to be made
up of representatives of the Ministries of Finance and Education and the JTS
to realign positions in the teaching service with those in the Civil Service
has not met. The JTA has written to the Ministry of finance pointing out
that it expects the meeting of the committee to begin before the endo of September
2002.
The Prime Minister, in
a letter to the JTA, said that the exercise should be completed in the shortest
possible time and that any adjustment to teachers’ salary would be effective
October 1, 2002.
2.2 New Pensions Provisions
The Pensions (Teachers’)
Act has been ammended to reflect three new provisions:
(i) increase in
the rate of pension from 1/600th to 1/540th
of pensionable emoluments for each complete month of pensionable service;
(i) removal of the
upper limit to the amount of pension a teacher may receive;
(i) calculation of a teacher’s
pension on the highest pensionable emoluments ever earned during service.
The Ministry of finance
is awaiting the signing of the law by the Governor General for the provisions
to be implemented. When this happens, the following will apply:
(i) all new retirement
cases will be computed based on the amendment and;
(i) retirement
cases already finalized in respect of retirement which took place since June
1996 will be re-computed. The Ministry of Finance and Planning indicates
that there are 1,600 such cases.
2.3 Current Negotiations
for 2002 - 2004 Contract Period
At the time of writing,
the JTA had been informed that the PSRB had presented its recommendations
to the Ministry of Finance and Planning. The Ministry is expected to call
the JTA to a meeting to present its offer and for meaningful negotiations
to begin.
2.4 Negotiations for
HEART Trust/NTA Instructors
The JTA’s negotiating
team has had approximately five meetings with HEART Trust/NTA. There has
been a settlement on some items but the JTA has rejected the offer of 6% over
the two years.
Discussions are continuing.
1. Annual Conference
The
annual conference was preceded by the Church Service which took place at the
Sharon Baptist Church, Santa Cruz. A number of teachers from the South Central
region attended the service. The business sessions of the conference took place
at the Renaissance Jamaica Grande Hotel, August 19 - 21, 2002 under the theme:
“Information Technology and the Delivery of Quality Education”.
Just
under 300 delegates and observers attended.
Central
Executive and General Council should note that while there was an increase in
the number of delegates over 2001, there has been a decline since 2000 in the
delegate representation at conference. A way has to be found to arrest the
trending down by encouraging more persons to offer themselves to be delegates/
observers to the conference which is the most important event on the Association’s
Calendar.
1. Lasco Salute to
Teachers Award
Nomination
forms for the parish awards are in circulation. Note should be taken of the
deadline date for the return of the forms. The JTA Regional Officers will work
along with parish leaders to set-up the parish selection committees. The Secretary
Administration will provide additional information.
1. Roll of Honour Award
The
Roll of Honour Award Ceremony will take place on October 17, 2002 at the Hilton
Kingston Hotel beginning at 7:00 p.m.
The
report of the Awards Committee is before the house for a decision on the recommendation(s).
1. JTA’s Programme
Activities 2002 - 2003
The
document outlining the programme activities for the Conference Year has been
laid on the table. This includes the President’s programme approved by conference.
1.Computer Training
Programme
The
new programme for 2002 - 2003 has started with courses being offered in Kingston,
Port Maria, Montego Bay, Brown’s Town and Mandeville. We are happy that a lab
has been established in Port Maria and that classes have begun there. This
was made possible by the former Workforce Development Consortium which donated
its 20 station computer laboratory to the Association.
Arrangements
are also being made to hand-out certificates to those persons who successfully
completed the courses during 2001 - 2002.
1.Announcement of Allocation
of $5M to Assist in Computer Training for Teachers
The
Association is in contact with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture
to find out how this allocation will be managed. It appears that the Ministry
will allocate the funds to the JTA but the specific use to which it should be
put has not yet been determined.
1.Commonwealth Teachers’
Meeting
The
General Secretary of the CUT has been invited to the second meeting of the working
group identified to co-ordinate the activities for the establishment of an Education
International Commonwealth Teachers’ Group. The meeting will take place in
London, September 21 - 27, 2002.
The
matters to be dealt with include:
- The Commonwealth Education
Fund and the Global Campaign for Education.
- Presentation of Big Books
to the Commonwealth Ministers of Finance at their meeting.
- Work in the World project.
- League for the exchange
of Commonwealth teachers.
- Planning for the 15th
Commonwealth Education Ministers’ Conference.
The
costs for the General Secretary to attend the meeting are being bourne by the
NUT and the Commonwealth Secretariat.
1.Meetings with the
Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture
One regular
meeting has been held. The matters discussed are listed.
10.1 District Model
of School Governance
The Ministry reports that
it has examined the JTA’s response to the concept document and will present
its position in discussion with the JTA. No date has been set for the meeting.
10.2 Conversion Policy
for Movement from Specialist to Trained Teacher Diploma
A proposal was put on the
table by the Ministry but the meeting decided that it should be further clarified
and re-submitted at the meeting in October.
10.3 Remuneration for
Honours Degree obtained at American Universities
The Teachers’ Service Commission
had given its approval that teachers who graduate from American Universities
with honours degree equivalent should be treated in the same way as those graduating
with such degrees from UWI and other Commonwealth Universities. The Ministry
placed on the table an effective date of September 2002 for implementation.
The JTA objected given that the TSC had given its approval from 2002. The Ministry
will re look at the issue.
10.4 NHT Deductions
from Wages of Ancillary Staff in Primary/All Age Schools
The Ministry, by circular
# 20/2002, is advising Chairmen of School Boards that schools are to deduct
2% of the employees’ wages and remit it to the NHT on a monthly basis. This
applies to persons aged 18 years and under the age or retirement and earning
not less than the minimum wage.
A copy of the circular
has been laid on the table.
Prepared by: Adolph
Cameron
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