JAMAICA TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION
97 CHURCH STREET
KINGSTON

SECRETARY GENERAL'S REPORT TO GENERAL COUNCIL SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2003

1. INTRODUCTION
I wish to extend welcome to all the members of General Council. Special welcome to our President, Mr. Wentworth Gabbidon, President Elect, Mr. Michael Clarke and Immediate Past President, Mrs. Sadie Comrie who are attending the first meeting of General Council in their new capacities. Special welcome also to those colleagues who are sitting on the General Council 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. ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The 39th Annual Conference took place as scheduled, August 18 - 20, 2003 at the Jamaica Grande Hotel, Ocho Rios. The conference was preceded on August 17, 2003 by the usual pre-conference Church Service held at Pike United Church, Manchester. All the activities related to the conference went well. Delegates and Observers have indicated that the conference was a good one. The major area of concern, however, was the long delay experienced by some delegates in being allocated rooms. This area needs to be dealt with by the hotel if the decision is taken to convene the next conference there.

The report of the conference proceedings has been circulated to members.

Congratulations to the officers and members of staff who contributed to successful hosting of the event.

3. SPECIAL MEETING OF GENERAL COUNCIL
The special meeting of the General Council was held on September 6, 2003 at which the standing and ad hoc committees were constituted. The minutes of that meeting gives the relevant details.

4. SEMINAR FOR MEMBERS OF CENTRAL EXECUTIVE
The annual seminar for the Central Executive was held on September 13, 2003 at the Knutsford Court Hotel, Kingston. Thirty-three persons, including officers and staff, were in attendance.

The matters dealt with included the role and responsibilities of General Council, Central Executive, and Standing Committees; implementation of the Association's programme for 2003 - 2004; update on the salary negotiations and briefing of chairmen of committees by the President.

The participants found the seminar useful.

5. SALARY NEGOTIATIONS
5.1 Teachers in the Public System
A further meeting to conclude the discussions on the outstanding items has not been held. The JTA's office has been in touch with the Ministry of Finance and Planning to decide on a date for the meeting. The outstanding items include: vacation leave for new entrants into the teaching service; graduate allowance; refund of the 50% of tuition and the conversion from the old pre-trained graduate scale to the new.

Questionnaires to get recommendations from teachers for the preparation of the 2004 - 2006 claim will be circulated to school by early October.

5.2 HEART Instructors
The HEART Trust/NTA has informed the Association that the response from the Ministry of Finance and Planning to the Job Evaluation Exercise is expected on September 26. The recommendations from the HEART Trust Board, based on those consultants, were submitted to the Ministry of Finance and Planning from May 2003 and it was expected that the matter would have been settled and the salary of the instructors adjusted as of July 2003. The Ministry of Finance and Planning has, however, raised questions in respect of the recommendations and this has delayed the payment of new salaries.

6. LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE OF JAMAICA
Members would have heard the Media release sent out by the Association in response to the issue between the Liberal Arts College of Jamaica and the University Council of Jamaica. In discussion with the Executive Director of the UCJ, the Association was informed that Credits received by students between March 2002 and December 2003 in the two programmes concerned will be valid.

It is the responsibility of the Liberal Arts College to ensure that it satisfies the requirements of the UCJ in order to retain the accreditation status of the two programmes.

Regarding the issue of the transcript from persons who have graduated from the programme, the Evaluation of Qualifications Committee (EQC) of the Teachers' Service Commission (TSC) will be meeting on October 1, 2003 and it is expected that a decision will be taken whether the revised transcripts satisfy the EQC.

7. J.T.A.'s STRATEGIC PLAN
The JTA's Strategic Plan prepared by Caribbean Applied Technology Centre Limited was presented to and approved by the Annual Conference held in August 2003. Among the recommendations approved is the establishment of two committees to see to the implementation of the Plan over the 2003 - 2006 period. These are:

(i) A Strategic Plan Monitoring Committee (SPMC) chaired by the President and to include representation from the Membership.

The role of the SPMC is to exercise oversight responsibilities over the implementation of the Strategic Plan. It is recommended that the SPMC meets at least once each quarter to receive updates and progress reports from the Secretary General and to deal with constitutional changes, material resources and other requirements necessary for the implementation of the Plan.

The composition of the SPMC, as recommended by the Consultant, has been modified as set out below and requires the approval of the General Council.

The Strategic Plan Monitoring Committee shall be constituted as follows:

· The Presidents (3)
· The Chairman of the Finance committee and one other member of the committee (2)
· The Chairman and one other member of the Board of Trustees (2)
· The Chairman and one other member of the Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee (2)
· The Chairman and one other member of the Professional Advancement Committee (2)
· The Chairman of Credentials Committee
· Three other members (3)

The President, in consultation with the Chairmen of the named committees, shall select the second person.

The Administrative Staff to be in an advisory position.

(ii) A Strategic Plan Steering Committee (SPSC) chaired by the Secretary General.

The SPSC will give daily direction to the implementation of the Strategic Plan. This committee will meet monthly.

The Strategic Plan Steering Committee shall be made up of the Presidents and the Administrative Staff.

The first major task to be under taken is the listing of all the recommendations contained in the Plan, identify the changes (constitutional and otherwise) to give effect to these recommendations and to develop the implementation timeline.

8. ROLL OF HONOUR AWARD
The Roll of Honour Award Presentation Ceremony will be held on Thursday, October 9, 2003 at the Hilton Kingston Hotel beginning at 7:00 p.m. Dr. Randolph Watson, Past Principal of Bethlehem Teachers' College, will be the 2003 recipient of the Award. Invitations to the function are being circulated.

9. HOSTING OF THE C.U.T.'s 10TH BIENNIAL ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 10th biennial CUT Athletics Championships for Students will be hosted by the JTA, July 14 - 19, 2004. The Organizing Committee, chaired by Mr. Byron Farquharson, has had two meetings and has named chairmen of the Working Committees. Efforts have begun to identify a major sponsor. Contact was made with Digicel, and a meeting held with the Marketing Manager.

The company has agreed to be the major sponsor of the event to the tune of Ja$3M. A draft Memorandum of Understanding was prepared and reviewed. A draft Memorandum of Understanding was approved by Central Executive at its meeting on September 26, 2003.

Digicel will host a Media event to publicise their sponsorship of the Meet on proposed date is October 1, 2003 at 12:30 p.m. in the JTA Conference Room. All Parish Presidents are specially invited to attend.

Patron of the Meet
The committee, at the meeting on Tuesday last, agreed to ask the Prime Minister to be the Patron of the Meet.

10. COMPUTER TRAINING PROGRAMME
The first phase of the programme for 2003 - 2004 has begun in four centres, namely, Kingston, Port Maria, Montego Bay and Mandeville. To date, 97 persons are enrolled in the programme.

11. NATIONAL COUNCIL ON EDUCATION
The tenure of the members of the National Council on Education came to an end in August 2003. The JTA has been asked to name its two representatives. Central Executive, at its meeting yesterday, approved the Secretary General and Dr. Nadine Scott for re-appointment as the JTA's representatives on the Council.

12. WORLD TEACHERS' DAY
October 5 of each year is designated World Teachers' Day by UNESCO and the ILO. It is the day when, worldwide, the contribution of teachers to national development is recognized and lauded. The theme for this year is, Teachers Opening Doors to a Better World. Two statements to mark the Day have been circulated. One is from UNESCO, ILO, UNICEF and UNDP. The second is from Education International and the World Confederation on Teachers.

The Roll of Honour Award Ceremony is the major activity of the JTA to mark the event. The Administration and Communications department also prepares a package which is to be sent to the Media.

13. MEETING WITH THE MINISTR OF EDUCATION, YOUTH AND CULTURE
The JTA has had one meeting with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture. The issues/matters raised were:

(i) Recovery of alleged overpayment to Specialist Teachers
The Association again voiced its objection to the wholesale deduction from teachers' salaries for overpayment. The matter was further discussed at the weekly diary update with the President and Administrative Staff. It was agreed that a letter be sent to the Ministry, putting forward the following position from the JTA:

(a) that the Ministry provides the JTA with a list of teachers who have been overpaid giving a breakdown of the amount of the overpayment;

(b) that the recovery of the overpayment be stayed until verification is done;

(c) that where the overpayment is verified, the recovery should be done overtime and not to place undue financial strain on the teacher;

(d) that the retroactive salary should not be used to offset any portion of the overpayment.

(i) Taxation of the Housing Allowance

(ii) Reluctance of the Regional Office to give permission for the employment of teachers

(iii) Non-Placement of ROSE/GNAT students in high schools

(iv) Delivery of textbooks

(v) Physical conditions in schools.

14. C.U.T. ACTIVITIES
14.1 Executive Committee Meeting
The first meeting of the new Executive Committee of the Cut will be held in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) December 4-7, 2003. Each unit is entitled to send one delegate to the meeting.

14.2 CUT/EI Caribbean/North America Conference
A Caribbean/North America Conference is being contemplated to precede the Executive Meeting. This conference will also be held in the BVI. The possible date is November 30 - December 4, 2003. This activity is being organized by the EI Regional Co-ordinator.

14.3 ILO Seminar on the Elimination of the worst forms of Child Labour
The CUT is collaborating with ILO Regional Office to host a seminar for representatives from four CUT units on The Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour in the Caribbean. This seminar is expected to follow the Executive Meeting and will also be in the BVI.

14.4 Meetings in Mexico
The President, Mr. Byron Farquharson, represented the CUT at a Research Conference in Cancun, Mexico, September 12 - 16, 2003. The conference focused on the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and its impact on education.

Mr. Kingsley Black, First Vice President, also represented the CUT at the IDEA Co-ordinating Committee Meeting in Mexico City, September 7 - 10, 2003 and also took part in the Cancun Conference.

15. JTA SECRETARIAT
The new salaries approved by the Central Executive for the JTA staff were paid in August 2003.

16. CONCLUSION
Let us dedicate our efforts to continue to build an Association that continues to serve the interest of its members and education.

Let us UNITE and SERVE.

Prepared by: Adolph Cameron.